COLNE boss Denzil Hart has been hit by a triple injury blow ahead of his side's long haul to Holker OB tomorrow, writes ANDY NEILD.

Assistant boss Gary Hines has a badly swollen foot and Richard Walton tweaked a hamstring in last weekend's 6-2 defeat against neighbours Nelson.

But Hart is most concerned about Chris Nuttall who now faces another long spell on the sidelines after damaging his knee on his comeback from a five-month lay-off.

"That was Chris's first appearance since the opening day of the season so to lose him again so quickly is very unfortunate," said Hart.

"Every time we get an injury this season it seems to be to a senior player and now I've got to try and bring a centre half in from somewhere, even if it's only a stop-gap measure. "We are very thin on the ground at the minute and that makes it hard to create any kind of competition for places among the players."

It's been a tough Christmas for the Reds who were beaten twice by Nelson over the festive period.

As well as the injury problems, Hart has also had to stomach watching two of his brightest young prospects in Troy Hayder and Dave Birch leave for UniBond League outfit Flixton.

But the Reds chief is hoping for better things in the new millennium and he is currently trying to tempt promising striker Dean Smith to Holt House.

Skipper Gary Dalton's foot injury is also out of plaster and he is hoping to be back in action before the end of the season.

"It's been tough recently but we can't afford to let it get us down," said Hart.

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