Folkestone Invicta manager Jay Saunders says Dean Rance will be big miss - on and off the pitch - as midfielder suffers broken tibia at training

Folkestone have been dealt a big injury blow.

The Isthmian Premier leaders confirmed midfielder Dean Rance has suffered a broken tibia ahead of last weekend’s goalless draw at Carshalton.

Rance, 34, is a popular figure at Cheriton Road, having first signed a two-year deal with them in 2024.

“Rancey’s injury is a massive blow for us - not just on the pitch but off it, too,” said Folkestone boss Jay Saunders. “He’s a senior lad and vice-captain. He will be a big loss.

“This week, believe it or not, he had still been in hospital, waiting for his operation. Hopefully, he gets that done and we’ll do whatever we can to try and help him.

“The sooner we can get him back, the better, but that won’t be any time soon.”

Rance’s injury blow capped a tough few weeks for Saunders, who already has been without key strikers Joe Pigott (illness) and Ade Yusuff (facial injuries), while defender Ike Orji (ankle) wasn’t available at Carshalton.

Saunders, who has brought in Ryan Kingsford and Jonathan Lawson, said: “We have had a really tough month.

“If you look at the lads we have been missing, we have had illness and injuries - and it was topped off with Dean Rance’s broken leg at training. But that can happen in football.

“Any team in this league would miss Joe Pigott, Ade Yusuff, Dean Rance and Ike Orji because they would start nine times out of 10.

“Obviously, we have brought a couple of players in but they played on Saturday on the back of one, or no, training sessions.

“The Aveley game (last midweek’s 1-0 loss), that could have been like the Cray Wanderers game (an 8-1 win at home). We had so many opportunities that we missed.

“If the last three results had been mixed in with the 12 wins, no one would be saying anything, but they have come after those 12 wins on the bounce.

“We have just been unlucky with how things have gone.”

Having scored in every single match this season until recently, Folkestone failed to net for the second successive game at Carshalton in front of a 625-strong crowd, although they did keep a first clean sheet in four fixtures themselves.

“It was quite a fair result,” reflected Saunders. “I said afterwards, if you would have said you will draw at Carshalton at the start of this season, I’d have said it’s not a bad result.

“They’re in a bit of a false position and it’s never an easy place to go. Even when I was playing, it was always a tough place to go.

“Ted (Collins, Invicta’s No.1) had to make a great save in the second half. In hindsight, a draw is probably a fair result.

“We were disappointed we didn’t score - but they probably will say the same thing. If you win at home and draw away, you’ll be in a decent position.

“It stops the rot and gives us something to build on.”

Attacker Kingsford came through the full game on his debut after he joined on an undisclosed fee from rivals Ramsgate.

Saunders said: “I was really pleased with him.

“He came in and did his first training session on Thursday - and it was a difficult training session, with Rancey’s broken leg. The session was a bit disrupted.

“But Ryan showed some glimpses of what he can do on Saturday. I think we have got players that can really link up with him.

“Moving forward, he’ll get better.”

For forward Lawson, 20, his Invicta bow came as a half-time substitute at the start of his initial one-month loan from Watford.

“He did well,” said Saunders, who could consider strengthening his midfield, too.

“He didn’t know anyone and hadn’t even had a training session with us so it was tough.

“He’s someone we looked at, at Tonbridge, and we nearly took. He went through one-on-one and is probably disappointed not to score.

“Ade, he will be out for a while and, with Pigs, we’re not too sure.

“But I’m really pleased to have Jonathan on board and we thank Watford who have allowed us to do that.”

Folkestone will host play-off chasing Burgess Hill on Saturday at the start of three straight games at Cheriton Road.

Saunders said: “Burgess Hill are a very good side.

“We have already played them in the league (winning 3-2) and in the FA Trophy (a 4-1 triumph), and Saturday’s game is one we’re looking forward to. It starts a run of three home games.

“It’s the business end of this season now and we have got to produce.

“Hopefully, we can do that on Saturday.”