Sheppey United could have a key player missing when they take on Hollands & Blair this Saturday.

The club are keeping their fingers crossed regarding an Achilles injury picked up by captain Ian Batten.

Boss Ernie Batten has described the midfielder as an important cog to what they do.

“He is absolutely vital for us,” said the Ites boss.

“He plays in a role where he always makes himself available for the ball, and his passing stats show how important he is.

“He came off after an hour the other day and the analyst is shouting that he’s never seen anyone with a 100% pass rate before.

“He picked up the injury without an impact and he couldn’t run on it. We will have to see how it is.

“He’s an unsung hero for us. People at the club know how important he is and we get a lot of interest in him.

“I’m his manager but also his dad and I never mention him. It’s always tough when your son plays for you and it’s harder for him, he feels he has to prove there is no favouritism, and there isn’t.

“In his mind he feels he has to play well every game and it’s about time I did say something about him, he is so important to us as a team.”

His injury is being assessed this week. Sheppey are also without keeper Josh Pelling as he starts a suspension following his dismissal at Deal last week for dissent.

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Next up for the Ites are Hollands & Blair, this Saturday, at home. Batten’s men will be looking to make that advantage count.

Blair are a formidable team on their own soil this season but Batten is confident the Holm Park pitch will suit his side more.

He said: “They are going to have to deal with our pace and the amount of pitch they have to cover. If we can play anywhere near our current form then we’ve got a good chance of winning.”

Sheppey have been missing Laurent Hamici with injury recently, while ex-Blair forward Rob Denness remains out injured.

Danny Rumbol has been missing because of illness, Ben Davisson is still injured with a thigh, and Steven Ita has left for Greenwich Borough.

Batten is happy with his squad as Sheppey have won their last four matches without conceding a goal.

He said: “We have got a couple of seven days in because there are a couple of good players out there but if it happens then we will have to release players to bring them in.

“We would like to get our injured players back though.”

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