Sheppey United's strength in depth is being put to the test after suffering several defensive injuries.

Player-boss Jack Midson has been forced to shuffle his troops to keep it tight at the back but has been boosted by a deal that keeps Gillingham teenager Sam Gale at the club for the remainder of the season, a player at home in defence or midfield.

Midson has held informal talks with players that could step in and provide extra cover but isn't rushing into anything while his team continue to compete well in Isthmian South East.

Both Dan Birch and Ashley Sains picked up knee injuries in the win at Ramsgate on October 8, but Sheppey battled well against fellow high-flyers VCD Athletic on Saturday, losing 2-1.

"It gives others an opportunity," said Midson. "I have spoken to other players but at the moment we are in no rush to make signings, but if we can't get them back for a while we may have to strengthen.

"Matty Parsons has come on, he has had to fill in as left-sided centre-back. He is a natural left-back and he can play higher up, but he came in and did well.

"He went in there on Saturday and is likely to be there next Saturday (against Sevenoaks Town). With Frankie Morgan at left-back, we are solid in quite a few areas, which is why I made those signings in the first place. I knew this time would come."

Gale, 18, can play centre-half but is excelling as a holding midfielder. It's a learning curve for the youngster, who was substituted on Saturday after a booking.

Midson said: "He was unlucky, his endeavour and enthusiasm is there. He got a booking for actually winning the ball.

"The referee was adamant he didn't touch the ball, but he won it. An experienced player then tried to reel him in with some niggling challenges. He might have been a bit naive and gone steaming in and [got] sent off and we couldn't risk that. He will learn from it and be ready for next week.

"He has done well as a holding midfielder. I think he needs to go hunting the ball because he does it well, he starts a lot of our play. He is a fantastic player."

Jacob Lambert also missed out at the weekend after an injury in training. Youngster Ben Beard was hoping to return to training this week (shin) while wideman Danny Leonard is seeing a specialist over a foot injury.

Midson levelled matters early in the second half in the match against VCD, but the Ites conceded in the 89th minute.

He said: "It wasn't a great first half, we weren't playing our usual free-flowing football and organised shape that we have been recently.

"But once we regrouped and had a chat at half-time, we came out really positive, sorted the shape out in midfield, scored a goal and then for 10-15 minutes were really on top.

"They turned the tables a bit, we got on top again and we should have put them to bed and to get sucker-punched like we did is disappointing. But again we showed we can mix it with the boys at the top."

Sevenoaks were knocked out of the FA Cup at the final qualifying stage against Ebbsfleet at the weekend, which has seen their league status suffer. With just five games played and only one win on the board, they have some catching up to do.

Midson is confident they will climb the table, like his own team, but hopes Sevenoaks' league push doesn't start just yet.

He said: "I fully expect them to pick up some points, start climbing the table and hopefully it doesn't come at the expense of us!"

Sheppey coach Craig Coles, meanwhile, has left the club to join Ites' former assistant manager Marcel Nimani at Whitstable Town.

The Southern Counties East club have named Nimani as first- team manager and Coles as head coach.

The club have said that Midson will update fans on the coaching set-up at the club later this week. Chelsea academy coach Chris McGinn has been helping out the club in recent weeks.