Hawks midfielder Godfrey Poku could be out for ‘a long time’ after suffering knee injury in FA Trophy loss to Notts County

Godfrey Poku receives treatment for his knee injury prior to coming off during the first half of the FA Trophy tie against Notts County. Photo by Dave Haines

The midfielder skippered the side during the FA Trophy loss to Notts County at the weekend before being replaced by new signing Aryn Williams on the half-hour mark.

But boss Paul Doswell says the initial signs do not look good and they are awaiting scan results to determine the nature of his injury.

There are growing fears Poku might have sustained medial or ACL damage which could rule him out for the remainder of the National League South season - should it be finished.

But Doswell is hopeful his length of absence is not as long as feared and said: ‘Godfrey was the big injury blow from Saturday, he’s come off with a knee and he’s been scanned today, but it doesn’t look good.

‘It looks like it's a medial or an ACL so I think that’s Godfrey out for a long time.

‘Hopefully, we can get his recovery period in, we don’t know yet, we’ve got to wait for the scan to know the extent of the injury.

‘If it’s a medial then he could be back by the very end of May and if it’s ACL then he’ll be out for six months.

‘But Leon (Chambers-Parillon) comes back in because he was cup-tied Saturday so it’s still a strong 16 we’ll travel up to Hemel with.'

Hawks are gearing up for their first National League South action since January 19 as they travel to Hemel Hempstead tomorrow (7.45pm).

Doswell feels his squad are going into it in the 'best shape in a long time' despite bowing out of the FA Trophy on penalties against National League opposition.

The Hawks boss was pleased with how his squad performed against the Football League hopefuls and wants a similar showing at Hemel.

They'll face Lee Bircham's troops in a markedly different mood from when the teams met earlier this season.

Doswell admitted his side were still carrying the scars from the FA Cup shock at Marine four days previous as they were beaten 3-2 at home by 10-man Hemel on December 2.

And the Hawks boss is eager to put that right against a Hemel team who've picked up just a single point at home in eight league matches this term.

Doswell said: 'We’re going up there very positive and in the best shape we’ve been in a long time in terms of how we’re feeling about ourselves as a team.

‘I’m feeling a lot, lot happier with where we’re at, that’s for sure.

‘The disappointment (from losing to Hemel) was the hangover still from the Sunday (FA Cup defeat at Marine).

‘The whole club went on a downer and that poor result and performance at Marine carried on into the Wednesday.

‘Our view is that we need to go there tomorrow, be organised - Hemel deserved it on the night there’s no doubt about that - but it’s very, very rare that I let a team beat us twice.

‘From our point of view it’s very important to go up there and get our three points we should have got at home.'

Along with Poku, goalkeeper Ross Worner (shoulder) will be missing at Hemel.

Oxford loanee Nico Jones does not serve a one-game suspension for his sending off against Notts County until the weekend against Ebbsfleet.

His U's team-mate Leon Chambers-Parillon is also available after missing the FA Trophy defeat as he was cup-tied.