Tonbridge Angels striker Noel Leighton looks set to require an ankle operation.

Leighton is back on the sidelines after an injury-hit start to his Angels career.

He joined in the summer having scored more than 40 goals for Three Bridges last season.

But he aggravated an old ankle injury during pre-season, missing the start of the National League South campaign.

And while he worked hard to get fit, he’s suffered a setback.

“It looks like he’ll need an operation,” said boss Jay Saunders.

“It’s not ideal and I feel for the lad.

“Unfortunately sometimes that’s how football goes.

“You can go through your whole career without any knocks and then you pick up something.

“It’s been a blow. We’ve not been able to see the best of him, we’ve not been able to get him fully fit.

“He went through a couple of weeks where he felt OK but as soon as he aggravated it again, he’s playing at 60%, which is no good to him or to us.

“He said to me, ‘I’m just so annoyed because I know what I can do and I just can’t show it’.

“He wanted to give it a go against Beckenham in the Kent Cup last week, strap it up and see if he could get through it.

“He tried and he scored a goal but afterwards he said, ‘I feel like I’m at 60-70%’.

“Against lower opposition you can get away with it but the higher you go it’s harder to carry an injury.

“I’ll find out more this week, I’d imagine, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t need an operation.”

Saunders was already in the market for forwards before Leighton’s injury and the search goes on.

A permanent deal for a player fell through last week when his club pulled the plug following an injury elsewhere in their squad.

A loan deal was also shelved with Saunders wanting to keep the player for longer than one month.

He’s looking up and down the leagues for reinforcements.

“I want to bring two in but they’ve got to be the right ones and it’s got to suit us financially as well,” said Saunders.

“I’m just trying to make sure we get ones that make a difference.

“You look at who you think will suit how we play and will be effective in what we do.

“The two players last week were from higher levels but I’m looking at all options.

“It’s tricky because every manager you speak to at the moment is looking for a forward.

“Not only do you sometimes miss out because a team gets an injury, sometimes you’re competing against other offers where it could be more money or full-time.”

Saunders is keen to get help for Trevan Robinson, who’s played more games than anticipated since joining from Isthmian South Central Leatherhead over the summer.

He could have scored a hat-trick as Angels went out of the FA Trophy 1-0 at Gosport Borough on Saturday and needs a rest.

“People have got to remember, I didn’t expect him to come in and start every game like he has,” said Saunders.

“He jumped up two levels, he’s a young lad, I thought he’d come in and out of the side as he adjusts to it but because of Noel’s injury, he’s had to play every game and it catches up with you.

“You find that a lot with young lads, they need to have a couple of games out and go again.

“I’ve got no issues with Trev, he’s a good player, he just needs some help.”

Tonbridge host Hemel Hempstead this Saturday (3pm) and visit Welling on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Angels and Hemel were the last sides to lose their unbeaten records this season.

They’re both in mid-table approaching the end of November although Tonbridge, who’ve lost just three of their 14 league matches, have games in hand to climb into the play-off places.

“We’ve not been great going forward of late but defensively quite good, whereas Hemel have been the opposite,” said Saunders.

“Bobby Wilkinson’s sides are normally direct, they work their socks off and we’ve got to be prepared for that.

“If you look at the table, we’ve got three or four games in hand on most teams and if we pick up good points, you’re in a strong position.

“I think it’s the best start the club’s had in National South but you lose a couple of games and it’s doom and gloom.

“But we’ve got games in hand, we’ve got players to come back, and we’ll get players in, so I’m OK with where we’re at.

“We need to add in that forward area and that will make a real difference to us.”

Key man Sean Shields should return against Hemel after missing the Gosport game through illness.