Skipper Sam Gaughran admits King's Lynn Town are missing their unsung hero Lee Smith.

The absence of the tireless midfielder was felt again by his team-mates on Saturday when another injury, this time to his quad, forced the 27-year-old to sit out the 2-0 defeat at Chesham United. Smith's place in the heart of the Linnets' engine room was taken by Gaughran who concedes it's not an easy task filling the former Histon man's boots.

Lynn's captain said: 'Lee Smith has fitted into the club superbly since he joined.

'I have known Smudge for a while now having played with him at Lowestoft. When the gaffer (Gary Setchell) asked me about him I said straight away; 'Sign him'. He adds energy to the team as well as experience and he does a lot of work that a lot of people won't notice. But if you take him out of the side he is missed.'

Smith, who joined Lynn from Histon in October last year, will be sidelined again this evening when Setchell's side host St Neots Town in a hastily rearranged Southern League Premier Division clash. Midfielder Michael Clunan will also miss the derby – postponed on Monday due to a waterlogged pitch – as he sits out the second of his two-game ban.

The duo's unavailability means Gaughran, primarily a centre-back, is likely to retain his anchorman role as Lynn aim to keep their ever-diminishing play-off hopes alive by doing the double over Neots.

'Recently I have been given a different role in the team by being a holding midfield player,' continued Gaughran in a blog on his club's official website.

'This is something I enjoy doing and it was a position I played for King's Lynn when I was first at the club as a 16-year-old.'

A brace from former Wroxham winger Remy Gordon earned the Saints, nine points clear of the relegation zone with five games to go, a 2-2 draw against Frome on Saturday.

Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division Gorleston are also in action this evening when they play their third game in five days at Ipswich Wanderers.