WITHAM Town’s “walking wounded” will be assessed this week ahead of their Bostik League division north trip to Mildenhall Town, according to manager Mark Ashford.

The team’s home game against Brentwood Town proved an attritional affair last weekend and while Witham emerged as 2-1 winners, it came at a cost.

Goalkeeper Luca Collins and defender Kevin Coyle limped from the pitch with injuries and a number of others, including Ayo Odukayo, Sam Owusu and Andrew Tirivanhu, finished the match playing through the pain barrier.

Ashford said he expected physio James Heaton to be busy this week patching members of his squad up, but said assessments would be made on individuals’ fitness ahead of the trip to Mildenhall.

“We are the walking wounded,” said the Witham boss.

“Kevin’s was an impact injury where he got studded on the shin and, knowing Kevin, I suspect he’ll want to play on Saturday (at Mildenhall).

“But Luca’s was a muscle injury where a player fell on him and he has pulled his groin.

“I’d be amazed if he was fit for the trip to Mildenhall, but we’ll look at it.

“I do have a goalkeeping coach who is a very good keeper himself and he may be up for doing that, but I may have to get on the phone and try to get someone in.

“I suspect Luca will be out for at least one game and maybe more, but that’s the way it can be in football.

“It’s a shame because he’d just won the Bostik League north’s Golden Gloves award for the best keeper in December and he’s been ever present this year, but then goes and picks up his first injury.

“I feel for him, but we’ll be dealing with the fall-out this week.

“We’re not the biggest squad in the world, but we’ll be assessing a number of players.”