King's Lynn defender Liam Murray has been ruled out for two months with a broken collarbone. The former Shrewsbury trainee was substituted with his left arm in a protective sling after a heavy fall during the first half of the midweek Unibond Premier Division draw against North Ferriby.

By PADDY DAVITT

King's Lynn defender Liam Murray has been ruled out for two months with a broken collarbone.

The former Shrewsbury trainee was substituted with his left arm in a protective sling after a heavy fall during the first half of the midweek Unibond Premier Division draw against North Ferriby.

Murray is the latest casualty to an ever-growing injury list at The Walks alongside first choice keeper Jason White (hand) and Gareth Sheldon (knee).

Sheldon is set for further scans today to assess the extent of any possible ligament damage suffered in the recent win at Guiseley. Lynn boss Carl Heggs has extended Ryan Beswick's stay from Kettering for a further month but admits he now needs fresh defensive cover.

“Whether we can do that before the FA Cup game this weekend is difficult,” he said. “Clubs do not want players cup tied. Luckily, Danny Spencer has played as a left-sided centre half before and we've brought in Jay Smedley so we've got options.”

Spencer's brace helped salvage a third consecutive home league draw on Tuesday but Heggs is adamant his players could now have turned a corner thanks to a vocal home crowd at The Walks.

“For the last 30 minutes stood in the dugout I really felt for the first time that this club was one,” he said. “I was proud to be King's Lynn manager. It wasn't me and the players based in the Midlands and the rest of the club on the other side. They really got behind us and pushed us on and it lifted the boys. The lads all came in afterwards and said that it had inspired them.

“People should know me well enough by now that I don't say things to keep anyone on side. Fans can make up their own minds about me and my team but, if I'm honest, at home the lads have looked a bit petrified. You need to be brave and get on the ball but maybe they haven't wanted to make mistakes and express themselves. We have young players who are desperate to impress but we've looked nervous at home. A lot of them are just not used to playing in front of such big crowds.”

Heggs praised his team's fighting spirit after slipping behind for the fourth time at home this season early in the second period.

“At half time I was fuming with them,” he said. “I told them to stop feeling sorry for themselves. Then we went 2-1 down but they showed real character to come back. I put young Nick (Davey) and Jordan (Smith) on and they gave us plenty of energy and when the crowd got behind us the whole team seemed to grow. Of course any time you drop two points at home you fall further behind but we've scored ten away goals in three games. How many teams at our level, or any level, have done the same?

“In 20 years of playing I never scored a goal like their lad did for the first one but that is how things are going although I wasn't happy with the closing down. Let's stay positive. The fact is we're six games unbeaten.”

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