Canterbury Ladies face a crucial top-of-the-table clash with Surbiton on Saturday but they will be without GB international midfielder Susannah Townsend.

The 25-year-old flies out to Argentina with the England squad a few hours later to prepare for the FIH Champions Trophy in Mendoza, with England Hockey banning her from playing in the 4.30pm game at Polo Farm.

City club player-coach Jen Wilson had mixed emotions about the news as it means the visitors – currently three points clear of Canterbury at the top – will be missing four of their key players.

She said: “She is an important player for us but we have played well without her in the past and we have other players ready to play their part.

“You want to play teams when we’re at full strength and hopefully we’ll cross paths again this season when both teams are."

Wilson added: “Surbiton are top of the league and just ahead of us. We only played them a few weeks ago and in that game we didn’t get it right in the first half, although we did in the second. This time we need to get both halves right."

Wilson also hailed the impact of striker Sarah Kerly whose sparkling form continued with two goals against Leicester on Sunday, adding: “A call-up to the England development programme can put extra pressure on players but she has done well since getting the call.”