King's Lynn midfielder Joe Francis is poised to return for the club's Southern League, Premier Division weekend trip to Swindon Supermarine after being knocked unconscious in the draw at Brackley.

By PADDY DAVITT

King's Lynn midfielder Joe Francis is poised to return for the club's Southern League, Premier Division weekend trip to Swindon Supermarine after being knocked unconscious in the draw at Brackley.

Francis was stretchered away suffering from mild concussion after notching his second league goal of the campaign to put Lynn ahead at St James' Park before the visitors were pegged back.

Lynn boss Keith Webb is confident Francis will recover for the weekend trip to Wiltshire. Defender Greg Lake and Steve Melton are the latest injury worries along with free scoring striker John Turner (hamstring) who was not involved at Brackley.

“We have to be so careful with John,” said Webb. “He has this hamstring problem and with that type of injury we must try to manage it and be guided by the player. The last thing I want is to end up shooting ourselves in the foot by losing him for a couple of months. Melts got a knock on the bottom of his foot and Greg is feeling a hip problem. Joe should be okay but we'll assess the squad before we travel.”

Webb missed the game to run the rule over a Conference-level target in action on the same night but admitted he drew a blank on his scouting mission.

“He was a player who had been recommended to me so I went to have a look,” said the Linnets' boss. “It was the first time I'd seen him in action but I haven't spoken to his people. I don't think that is one we'll look to pursue. From what I saw he's not what I want or we need.”

Assistant boss Lee Glover and Shaun Carey took charge in Webb's absence at Brackley. The Linnets' boss insists Lynn need to develop a killer instinct after his debrief.

“From what I've been told we played some good stuff first half but fell away after the break,” he said. “If you invite teams onto you then you make things difficult. It's a little disappointing that we can't kill teams off. A point is not a bad result because even though Chippenham won there I don't think many sides will get too much this season.”

Ben Chapman's competitive debut as a late second half substitute was another plus point. The former Boston United defender had missed the opening matches after picking up a calf problem in pre-season.

“Ben has been close for the last week or so,” said Webb. “I never want to push those muscular-type of injuries. Maybe at a professional club you would take a risk because you have more options but we can't afford to do that.”