EAST Thurrock United could be without talismanic striker Sam Higgins for the next seven weeks after he pulled his hamstring in pre-season on Saturday.

The Rocks captain was substituted in the first-half of Saturday’s 3-2 win over Harlow Town, after sustaining the injury, and he will now miss the start of the National League South season.

Higgins, who has scored 89 goals in his last 93 appearances for East Thurrock, could miss the first 11 games of the league season, and may not expected to return until the middle of September.

Although manager John Coventry is hopeful that Higgins, given the right treatment could be back in four weeks.

“Obviously it is a big blow,” said Coventry. “Sam is extremely important to what we do and there is no way to replace his goals. He is really disappointed and frustrated.

“He pulled up early in the game and he will be out for a month or maybe even seven weeks. That is not what we wanted obviously but we will be doing all we can to get him back. James Walker played there by himself and is more than capable of doing that.

“We have an abundance of midfielders but not all of them can do the job that Sam does. However, we have plenty of talented players and we will work around it. We have to.”

And Coventry said he is still working on his squad with the season now just four days away, and will be looking at a number of players in tonight’s pre-season friendly at Canvey Island.

Coventry is still on the look-out for a centre-half, with Joe Ellul unlikely to play tonight due to a slight injury, although he is in contention to play against Hungerford Town on Saturday.

“I need a centre-half. Joe is injured and I don't know whether he will be involved. I am trying to work on a few things and I hope things come off.

“Until you get to the first game you never know what you will have, so a lot could change before Saturday.”