Maidstone defender Richard Davies is preparing for a month on the sidelines after being hospitalised during Saturday’s FA Cup win at Merstham.

Davies injured his knee late in the first half at Moatside and was taken by ambulance to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

There were fears the right-back had ruptured knee ligaments, but he was discharged on Saturday night with less serious sprain damage.

Even so, he expects to miss at least four weeks of what was developing into an exciting debut season at the Gallagher Stadium.

He said: "The hospital said to rest up for a week and then see how it is. If it still hasn’t healed, I need to go back to them.

"I’ve said (I’ll be back playing in) a month – but I wouldn’t bet on it.”

Davies, who won the Kent League with Erith & Belvedere last season, became Stones manager Jay Saunders’ fourth summer signing in June. And life in the Ryman League Premier Division hasn’t fazed him.

He said: “It’s been going really well, up until Saturday.

"It’s been a little bit different and it took a little while to adjust to the different quality of players. But it didn’t take too long, though."

Read the full interview with Richard Davies in Friday's Kent Messenger.