Mulligan hopes to be fit for Poppies' trip to Dorchester

Gary Mulligan scored his first goal of the season for Kettering Town in the win at Farnborough but also suffered a hamstring injury. Picture by Peter Short

The centre-half, who has been one of the outstanding performers in the Poppies’ impressive start to the season, had to be withdrawn at half-time during last weekend’s dramatic 4-3 victory at Farnborough due to a hamstring problem.

Fortunately, Kettering are now without a league game until they head to Dorchester Town a week on Saturday although they do have a BigFreeBet.com Challenge Cup clash at AFC Rushden & Diamonds next Tuesday night.

But Mulligan insists his main focus is on making sure he is ready to return for the long trip to Dorset.

“As I took off I just felt a little pull in my hamstring and it was a bit tight after that,” Mulligan said.

“It’s still a bit early to say how long it should be but I am hopeful it won’t be any longer than a couple of weeks.

“It would be good if I could be back for the game with Diamonds but I think the priority will be to try to be fit for Dorchester.”

Mulligan’s early finish last weekend came after he had scored his first goal of the season to help put the Poppies 3-0 up at half-time.

But fellow defender Durrell Berry also came off at the break and the defensive reshuffle clearly had an adverse effect as Farnborough battled back to 3-3 before Mathew Stevens hit the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage-time.

Mulligan certainly enjoyed the moment after he scored Kettering’s second goal as he added his name to the ever-growing list of goalscorers this season.

He added: “I think you could see from the celebrations how pleased I was!

“We have been fortunate because we haven’t had someone who has scored 15 goals in the league already but we have had players all over the pitch contributing with the goals.

“And hopefully that will continue with everyone chipping in with the goals.”

Read more from Gary Mulligan in Thursday’s Northamptonshire Telegraph