Kevin Wilkin hit with fresh injury concerns after being dealt with triple blow

Telford boss Kevin Wilkin has been left frustrated by injuries to three key players ahead of this afternoon’s game with Spalding United.

The Bucks look set to be without star striker Matty Stemson, creative midfielder Charlie Williams and left-sided defender Zak Lilly this weekend as they look to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

It comes just as Wilkin had been able to welcome a number of players back into the fold after their own injury layoffs, and the Telford boss admitted the stop-start nature of some player’s availability has been far from ideal.

“It does offer opportunities to other players, but at the same time we need continuity,” Wilkin said. “We’ve been toing and froing for pretty much all of the season really with injuries and still now there are a few lads in the group with bumps and bruises that we’re having to deal with at the moment.

“It feels like we take a couple of steps forward and then one step back. We still don’t have Matty back and now Charlie and Zak are injured as well, and all three of them are players who would be out there and playing every week for us.

“When we do have a full compliment of players we are fairly competitive and it’s seen us pick up some good results.

“That’s the challenge now, it’s a struggle when you keep losing players to injury like we are doing.”

Williams suffered a hamstring injury against Southport last time out, while Wilkin revealed that Zak Lilly’s absence is due to a shoulder problem.

“Zak’s reported an issue with his shoulder and we’re not sure exactly how long it is going to keep him out,” Wilkin said. “He’s a big player for us, and someone we identified in the summer and were able to bring in.

“When you’re missing good players like him it has an impact on the group, but thankfully Jordan (Cranston) went in there and showed again he is capable of playing as a left-sided centre half.

“He had to do it for us last season, and with how we want to play and manage the ball it suited Jordan, who is good technically and has a great left foot on him.

“He maybe looked a little bit rusty at times, but you’d grant him that given the stop-start season he’s had himself.”

Stenson continues to be side-lined with a toe problem, and his absence has left experienced-striker Louis Moult to lead the line week in week out.

The former-Crewe striker has five goals to his name this season, including the winner at Southport last weekend, and Wilkin is confident the 34-year-old can continue his good form if given the opportunities.

“Louis’ got that craft of being able to score goals,” Wilkin said. “If we can find him in those moments and situations more often I’m sure he will continue to put the ball in the back of the net for us.”