RUEFUL boss Steve Cuss has revealed Wimborne Town anticipate being without midfielder Jack Lupton until Christmas.

The 23-year-old is due under the knife next month in a bid to solve an ankle problem and could remain sidelined for up to 10 weeks after surgery.

Lupton, a former student at Bournemouth University, was a squad regular last term and Cuss is hoping that the emerging talent can come back stronger.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “It’s a shame for Jack as he was desperate to get a full pre-season under his belt and to be in contention for a first-team place.

“He picked up the injury on the eve of the first pre-season training session and has not been able to take part since.

“It’s bad news for him that it requires an operation to tidy it up. We wish him well and, hopefully, we will see him back sooner rather than later.”

Cuss will be without another ankle injury victim, Tom Biles, when Magpies entertain Winchester City in Southern South & West tonight (7.45pm).

Franklyn Clarke and Ryan Johnson are on holiday but Jon Blake, who missed the season-opening defeat to Shortwood due to family reasons, could play a part.

League new boys Winchester enjoyed a thumping 7-2 triumph over Bridgwater on Saturday but a 4-1 loss for Wimborne in Gloucestershire was not what Cuss had hoped for.

He added: “I was disappointed with our defending and that’s something we have to be better at. I think we can score goals but we have to stop them going in at the other end.

“The performance in general was okay but there were individual errors for the goals. In order to rectify that, the emphasis is not just on the back four and the goalkeeper but on the whole team.

“Winchester are on a big high following their promotion to the Southern League and the result against Bridgwater on Saturday, which was a fantastic result.

“They have some good players and it is certainly going to be a tough game.”

Wimborne: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Costello, Maybury, Blake, Phelps, Oliver, Wilson, Stokoe, Walters, Kellaway, Elliott, Griffin, Gamble, Preston, Roast.

The ex-Bournemouth Poppies man has been added to the Hammers squad and boss Shane Traynor also has Brad Hill available.

Lymington are set to welcome David Marden and Nathan Hurst for their trip to Poppies but Ben Sullivan is out for the visitors (7.45pm).