BLACKFIELD & Langley have been dealt two crushing injury blows prior to Sydenhams Premier Division lift-off.

Having finally won their battle to prise Tom Hill away from divisional rivals Brockenhurst, the Watersiders will, in all probability, lose him for the lion’s share of the new season.

Hill requires surgery after rupturing knee ligaments in training and, in manager Glenn Howes’ experience, that means at least seven months on the sidelines.

To make matters worse, lively wideman Edgar Zanin has been ruled out for the start of the campaign having dislocated his shoulder during Tuesday’s 2-0 friendly win over Downton.

The former Totton & Eling youngster is in plaster and is expected to be out for eight weeks.

Having been forced out of football prematurely due to a sickening knee injury, Howes can totally empathise with what ex-Bashley man and former AFC Bournemouth trainee Hill is going through.

He said: “His ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is completely ruptured.

“He had a bit of damage to his knee last year so it was still a bit weak and he’s gone over awkwardly on the hard ground.

“He got the results of his scan this week and I know what he’s going through.

“I’ve known people to come back from ACL ruptures in seven to nine months, so hopefully that’s the case for Tom.

“He’s a really good kid and we’re going to try to keep him involved in some capacity and maybe get him to go and watch some players for us.”

Zanin’s injury was just a freak accident.

Having gone on and scored as a substitute against Downton, his hunger to get another goal backfired as he ended the evening in A&E.

“Ed tried an ambitious overhead kick, landed awkwardly and dislocated his shoulder,” Howes reported.

“He’s got significant ligament damage and will be in plaster for a week to ten days.”