Whitstable Town boss Justin Luchford is confident his side will have too much quality to be relegated this season once the Belmont injury crisis has eased.

The Oystermen have picked up just seven of a possible 30 points since Luchford (pictured) took charge of his first game as manager in November and they sit five points and two places above the drop zone in Ryman League, Division 1 South.

With 11 senior players sidelined with injuries, the odds appear stacked against Town in the short-term but Luchford has no doubts his side will pull clear.

"I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me, but I just don’t see us being there once everyone is fit and available," he said.

Already missing eight players for the visit of high-flying Folkestone Invicta on Monday, Luchford lost three more to injury during the 1-0 defeat.

Dane Luchford, Marc Cumberbatch, Ant Bodle, Dan Wisker, Steven Lloyd and Alfie Munday will all miss Saturday’s crunch clash at fellow strugglers Walton & Hersham, while Stuart Vahid, Scott Heard, Shane Hamshare, Damian Abel and Gary Sayer are doubts.