King's Lynn boss Tommy Taylor is braced for another week of medical bulletins before his depleted squad heads to Southern League promotion rivals Merthyr Tydfil.

King's Lynn boss Tommy Taylor is braced for another week of medical bulletins before his depleted squad heads to Southern League promotion rivals Merthyr Tydfil.

Shaun Carey and Mark Camm both missed Lynn's first win of the new year against Cheshunt at the weekend while impressive youngster Matt Peters limped out of the action on his home debut.

Dean West (hamstring) and Cedric Anselin (groin) played with injuries while keeper John Higgs is sidelined until next month after dislocating his left shoulder against Banbury.

Taylor also landed himself a suspension headache for the trip to Bath City on January 28 when Grant Cooper and Matt O'Halloran were ruled out following second half bookings against the Ambers.

With championship challengers Chippenham the third hurdle in a trio of tough awaydays over consecutive weekends, Taylor admits his squad could be stretched to breaking point.

"We've got good youngsters but it's difficult to throw them in against the top sides," he said. "When you are winning games they can go on from the bench with no real pressure on them. Matt Peters did well, I had no fears playing him against Cheshunt although it might have been a different matter if we had been facing Salisbury. He isn't the strongest yet, physically, and towards he took a few whacks on his ankle.

"Losing the two lads for the Bath game is a blow. Hopefully by then some of the injuries will have cleared. Cammy is struggling with the groin and back problems he had at the start of the season. There's not a lot we can do other than rest him when we can. Shaun tweaked a calf in the warm up. I've already told him to get it checked out by the physio but if he isn't fit I don't want him to travel all the way down to Merthyr."

Lynn's next two opponents meet in Wales tonight. With Tiverton and Chippenham also in midweek action, Taylor acknowledges the playoff race is beginning to hot up.

"We can only win as many games as we can," he said. "If Salisbury get pulled back in then all well and good. That's why beating Cheshunt was so important. If we plan to do anything we will need to win the majority of our home games.

"The lads were never on top form, but I'd settle for a few more of those results between now and the end of the season."