Sol Wanjau-Smith - the man whose hat-trick launched Maidstone’s glorious FA Cup run - is out of their trip to Ipswich.

The forward misses Saturday’s televised fourth-round tie at Portman Road with ankle ligament damage.

Wanjau-Smith hasn’t played since the Stones’ 1-0 victory over Stevenage in round three and is expected to be out for up to six weeks, with his foot currently in a protective boot.

He’d been in tears before the Stevenage game after a scare in training but managed to get through 80 minutes as Maidstone defeated the League 1 club at the Gallagher Stadium.

The Bristolian has come to terms with missing Ipswich, where Maidstone will be backed by 4,500 travelling fans, and hopes his team-mates can pull off the mother of all upsets against their Championship opponents.

“Unfortunately Ipswich is a no-go but I’m just happy and proud of myself for getting through the Stevenage game and proud of the boys for getting this far,” said Wanjau-Smith.

“Hopefully they can do the business and I can skip round four and play in round five. It would be awesome.

“I’ll still be there supporting them. Hopefully we’re going overnight on the Friday and I’ll be around the boys trying to be as supportive as possible.

“It’ll be a great experience for everyone. It’s important I’m still there and it’s the same for the other lads who can’t play, the ones who are cup-tied.”

Wanjau-Smith scored a hat-trick in September as Maidstone entered qualifying with a 4-1 win at Steyning.

It was the first of six victories in this season’s competition, with United through to the fourth round for the first time.

The former Hungerford man, whose debut campaign at the Gallagher was blighted by knee problems, suspected he’d be facing time on the sidelines when he woke up after the Stevenage tie.

A scan confirmed his suspicions with the ligament damage supplemented by some micro-fractures, which are effectively bone-bruising.

“As soon as Stevenage was done, you have that gut feeling when you wake up on Sunday morning and think this is not moving too well,” said Wanjau-Smith.

“I’m gutted, selfishly, that I’m missing league games like Yeovil, the south-west teams, and a team that’s up the top of the league that we need to try and beat to catch them.

“I’m gutted about that but Ipswich is what it is.

“It’s a game that doesn’t come around too often but I was more emotional at the thought of missing the Stevenage game than I am knowing I’m missing Ipswich.

“After a week of not training and missing so much of last season, I’ve prepared myself to be missing Ipswich.

“But when I was pulled out of training on the Friday before Stevenage, it was a rush of emotion. I was panicking almost.”

Boss George Elokobi and team-mates have rallied round Wanjau-Smith in light of his injury misfortune.

He’s determined to be back as soon as possible to help Maidstone’s National League South promotion bid but knows he must also be sensible.

Everyone’s been really supportive,” he said.

“Everyone knows how much I want to play every minute of every game but sometimes it’s just not possible and injuries happen.

“It’s part of being a footballer - it’s just how you come back from that and the return.

“I’m looking forward to being back out there and enjoying every minute.

“That’s the thing this season, no matter what the results have been, I’ve enjoyed being out there again after only playing 14/15 games last season.

“I think I’ve already played 30 this year so it’s awesome to be out there and hopefully I can get back out there as quick as possible.

“The gaffer, Craig (Fagan, assistant manager), everyone’s been great.

“Sometimes, with my personality, I want to do things as quick as they can be done.

“But it has to heal and I have to let it run its course and then we can start pushing it, so it’s about being patient as well.

“It shouldn’t be much longer than six weeks, I’m hoping not anyway.

“I’m looking at mid-February to late-February and hopefully I can play the last couple of months and push us into the play-offs if not beyond.”