King's Lynn skipper Mark Warren has been ruled out until next month after picking up a groin injury in the club's FA Cup first round qualifying stroll at Lincoln United.

King's Lynn skipper Mark Warren has been ruled out until next month after picking up a groin injury in the club's FA Cup first round qualifying stroll at Lincoln United.

Warren is poised to miss up to three matches - including Lynn's second qualifying round trip to Southern League, Division One Midlands strugglers Stourbridge on Saturday, September 29.

Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins confirmed the club will now step up the chase for former Norwich defender Craig Fleming after Warren hobbled out of their 3-0 weekend win. Fleming is poised to train again tonight with Keith Webb's squad.

“Talks are on going and things are looking positive,” said Bobbins. “As yet nothing has been finalised. I've spoken to Mark and he is feeling very, very sore. It's a deep seated groin problem. We're looking at two to three matches depending on the severity of the injury. The good news is Greg Crane and Shaun Carey both played 90 minutes in the reserves, so they will be available for our next one.”

Bobbins admitted Lynn's Stourbridge trip is a step into the unknown. The Black Country outfit are currently 17th but booked their place in the next round with a 2-0 home win over league rivals Leamington.

“Playing away certainly holds no fears for us,” he said. “I know absolutely nothing about them, but hopefully we can progress. With all due respect to Stourbridge we've managed to avoid the Conference level teams, although we showed last year against Hucknall and Bishop's Stortford that we can compete.

“If the draw is kind then there are beatable teams all the way through to the first round proper. It's difficult to assess how good the Lincoln United performance was because we never let them settle. The boys were prepared to battle for each other from the start and you need that in those type of games.”

Bobbins remains confident another prolonged cup run will not harm the club's league push.

“We want to keep that winning habit,” he said. “In all honesty I don't think it was the cup run that hindered us last year - it was everything else that was going on around it. Losing Tommy Taylor and Adam Smith was difficult along with not having a full time manager. Even if Tommy had been in charge after the Oldham game it was always going to be hard to pick the boys up again.”

t Ridgeons Premier Division Kirkley & Pakefield will host Stourbridge's fellow Division One Midlands rivals Leighton Town at Walmer Road in the next round.

Nick Shorten's side knocked out Ridgeons Premier champions Wroxham 2-1 at the weekend. Mildenhall have landed a home tie against Southern League, Premier Division Hitchin if they get past Haverhill in their first qualifying round replay.

Second qualifying round ties are scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 29. Winning clubs receive £3,750.