Needham Market manager Richard Wilkins is missing two of his major players ahead of today’s Bostik Premier clash at Tooting & Mitcham United.

Centre-back Dan Morphew is suspended following his dismissal for two bookings during the Marketmen’s 3-0 home defeat to Brightlingsea Regent, at the end of last month.

The highly-rated Kieran Morphew is also absent, through injury, leaving Wilkins slightly thin on the ground for the trip to south west London.

Following two victories, two defeats and a draw, former Bury Town and Leiston manager Wilkins is keen to start putting a run together, beginning against a team that he says are very strong in attack.

Wilkins said: “We have had a report on Tooting & Mitcham and offensively they are a really good team, but there are areas from a defensive point-of-view where they probably have weaknesses.

“We have done a few bits in training this week to try and nullify their threats and take advantage of their weaknesses.”

Needham go into the game boosted by last Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Clapton, in the FA Cup – Gareth Heath, Luke Ingram and Callum Harrison netting for the Marketmen on that occasion.

Prior to that though, a win at Folkestone Invicta had been sandwiched between two home league defeats, against Wingate & Finchley and Brightlingsea.

“The first month has been a little up and down and I don’t think it’s helped being a couple of players short,” Wilkins confessed.

“The two games we lost we did not play well enough in, although there was a lot of travelling involved getting back from Folkestone on the Saturday to then play Brightlingsea on the Bank Holiday Monday.”

Bury Town in 13th entertain 11th-placed Tilbury at Ram Meadow this afternoon.

The Blues go into the game off the back of a draw at Soham Town Rangers – Ben Chenery’s side fighting back from two-goals down to leave with a point, thanks to goals from Ollie Hughes and Darren Mills.