Paulsgrove top scorer Danny Lane out for around six weeks after suffering a broken wrist

The club’s 12-goal top scorer suffered the injury after landing awkwardly during the 5-1 win on Hawks’ new 3G surface against Clanfield.

He didn’t realise the extent of the injury until he went out for a meal on Saturday night and had difficulty holding the cutlery.

A visit to a walk-in centre resulted in the news that could keep him out for around six weeks.

And that’s a big blow to Grove, who are due to face some of the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division high-fliers in the coming weeks.

They follow up next Saturday’s home game with fourth-placed Overton with a midweek match at Hayling United.

Grove then travel to fellow unbeaten side Infinity on October 31 before hosting new leaders Bush Hill on November 7.

Though Grove won 5-1 against Clanfield, they did so after a slow start which Grant was half-expecting due to the artificial surface.

‘I said beforehand we just had to stay in the game for 20-25 minutes until we got used to the pitch,’ he said.

‘If we could do that, I was confident our class would tell.

‘We had a few missing again but, player for player, I thought we would have enough to beat them.’

While Hawks had watered the pitch prior to their FA Cup win over Chatham three days earlier, it remained dry for Clanfield’s first ever HPL game on it.

‘It’s a brand new pitch and it will take a few months before it naturally gets quicker,’ said Grant.

Paulsgrove have only dropped two points in seven games so far, and are the division’s top scorers (with 36) even though they have played fewer games than anyone else in the top 10.

But Grant knows harder days lie ahead.

‘This is the toughest Hampshire Premier League I have known,’ he said.

‘There is no way anyone will go through the season unbeaten.

‘Teams at the top are dropping points against teams you wouldn’t expect them to.’