STEVE Brown is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a shin injury in Saturday 1 March's goalless draw at second placed Worcester City.

The left winger missed out on a place in the starting line up for the first time this season as Chippenham took on Halesowen in the semi-final of the Dr Martens Cup on Tuesday night and will not be fit enough to face Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

He had previously been the only ever-present in the Bluebirds side this term, starting all 40 league and cup matches and scoring five goals in the process.

Brown was carried off after ten minutes on Saturday and taken to Worcester Hospital, where staff confirmed his shin was badly bruised rather than broken.

He said: "I took a massive whack on the shin bone and had an x-ray during the second half on Saturday.

"They said I just had to rest my leg for 72 hours and not put any pressure on it and I was on crutches earlier in the week. I was looking forward to the game on Tuesday and also the game against Stafford. I can't see myself being fit for that one, if I'm being realistic.

"I'm not sure about Salisbury on Tuesday, but I'm not going to force it and risk being out for the rest of the season."

Brown does not attach any blame to the Worcester player who inflicted his injury. He said: "I went in for a challenge and came off worse. It was nothing malicious.

"I've been very fortunate with injury during my career so far but this is one I could have done without with two cup semi-finals and games against Worcester and Stafford in the space of ten days.

"Luckily there is nothing broken and hopefully it will heal sooner rather than later."