CHELMSFORD City will have to wait until the end of the week before finding out the full extent of centre-half Ben Martin's groin injury as head coach, Glenn Pennyfather, ponders how to refresh his defence ahead of tonight's trip to former Blue Square Premier outfit Woking, kick-off 7.

CHELMSFORD City will have to wait until the end of the week before finding out the full extent of centre-half Ben Martin's groin injury as head coach, Glenn Pennyfather, ponders how to refresh his defence ahead of tonight's trip to former Blue Square Premier outfit Woking, kick-off 7.45pm at the Kingfield Stadium.

Martin sustained a torn groin muscle in the first-half of Chelmsford's 4-3 opening day victory over Bath City on Saturday, meaning he will be ruled out for at least the immediate future. He joins midfielder Ollie Berquez (broken foot) on the treatment table for the Clarets, with Glenn revealing: “I'm going to have to make a decision what to do at centre-back as the side lost a bit of balance when Ben went off on Saturday. His groin is still very sore and we won't know fully how long he will be out until Thursday-time but he is likely to be missing for upwards of four weeks. It's a shame as he was chomping at the bit to do well but when he comes back he will be bigger and stronger.”

Aside from other missing faces in the shape of the unavailable Steve Ward and skipper Dave Rainford, who serves the last game of a suspension, City will also be without diminutive winger Jon Keeling, who has been released by the club. Keeling played an important part in the Clarets' Ryman Premier title-winning team of 2008, as well as the team's impressive start to last season, but a need to slightly adjust the playing resources available to him meant Pennyfather had to reluctantly let the winger go.

“The squad needed trimming and our latest move has unfortunately seen us having to release Jon,” he explained, also stating goalkeeper Ashley Harrison will join back up with the squad that travels to face The Cards in Surrey. “It's my responsibility to ensure we remain on-budget so if we want to bring anyone else in it sometimes means someone has to move on. Jon has been an excellent player for us and naturally we wish him all the very best wherever he plays next.”