Maidstone boss John Still fears key midfielder Simon Walton could miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Player-coach Walton landed badly after being accidentally clattered by Stones goalkeeper Dion-Curtis Henry during last week’s 3-0 FA Trophy replay win over Salford.

He could still barely move the arm while on coaching duties in a 2-0 defeat at Bromley on Saturday.

No timescale has been put on his recovery but Still said: “I think it’s going to be a while, a long while.

“The season? Maybe. I do think so but we’ll have to worry about that on Monday now.”

Walton had been in fine form before his injury and United badly missed his presence protecting the defence, not to mention his talking, as Bromley ran midfield.

Still spoke after the game about people playing to their strengths, using Walton to make his point.

He said: “I’m going to be hypothetical but if you’re a midfield player who’s a good passer and you can find your pass and you’re clever with the ball, but you’re not great at getting it back, that’s OK, but be good with the ball.

“If you’re a midfield player that’s good at tackling and shutting people down and squeezing the game and not so great with the ball, do that bit of the game because you’re good at that.

“If you’re supposedly in the team to do that particular skill, and you don’t do it, you’re not contributing to the team.

“With Simon, he does the job that he does well.

“It might not be a spectacular job but boy did we need that in our team today, and we didn’t have it.”

Maidstone are looking at replacements in Walton’s mould and will see what can be done.

Still said: “Yes, we have people in mind but finances dictate a little bit.

“We’ll keep trying. I don’t want too many loans, I want my own players, but we’ll keep knocking at the door and see what’s available and whatever choice we have to make, we’ll make.”