Poppies hit by a double injury setback
Kelly is facing up to four weeks out after pulling his hamstring in training soon after recovering from a similar injury.
And striker O’Connor could, potentially, miss the remainder of the Vanarama National League North campaign due to an achilles problem picked up during training last weekend.
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Hide AdWith the Poppies facing the prospect of squeezing in 14 games between now and the end of the season after a string of postponements, the two injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time for boss Paul Cox as he bids to lead the club to safety.
And he insists moves will now have to be made to bring in fresh faces as Kettering prepare to take on fellow strugglers Gloucester City at Latimer Park on Saturday.
“Aaron and Marcus look like they are going to be out for the medium to long term,” the Poppies manager said.
“Marcus pulled his hamstring in training and I am gutted for the lad. He has worked ever so hard to get back and was looking really sharp in training.
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Hide Ad“And Aaron felt a problem just above his achilles last Saturday and that’s not looking good if I am honest.
“Both are going to be big losses for us and, speaking to the physio, it looks like being a long-term thing for both of them.
“I think we will see Marcus again this season, we are looking at three to four weeks.
“But Aaron, on the other side, it could be between four to six weeks which could be the end of the season.
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Hide Ad“They are two huge losses at this stage. They are two very good players who have been great for me since I have been here.
“I am looking to strengthen, it’s as simple as that. We have to bring bodies in.
“I don’t want to take any chances with the position we are in.
“People will look at it with the games in hand and points we have and think it’s okay but I don’t buy into that. I buy into ‘let’s get the job done’.
“We can all sit back when the goal is achieved but we have to get it done and we will have to strengthen. We need to get this job done now.”