If having to deal with his side's 6-0 home defeat on Saturday was not enough Silkmen boss Keith Alexander today learnt he would be without the services of two senior players.

"Jamie Tolley has been for his scan today and as feared it is his medial ligaments," explained a disappointed Keith. "Typically we're looking at anywhere between six to eight weeks for injuries like that to recover. So hopefully he will respond well to treatment and it will be nearer six than eight!"

To compound matters last year's leading scorer Francis Green is also likely to be missing for some time after turning his ankle in training this morning.

"Franny went over on his ankle today and we're waiting to find out the full extent of the damage," said Keith. "But at this stage there's no way he'll be available for the JPT game at Crewe on Tuesday and he's almost certainly going to miss the visit of Luton Town on Saturday as well."

In addition Sean Hessey will serve his one game ban for his sending off against Darlington and Ahmed Deen will be missing for the next two games as he is away on international duty with Sierra Leone who are due to take on Equatorial Guinea in a World Cup qualifier in Freetown on Saturday.