Harrogate Town will be without key midfielder Morgan Williams and defender Grant Horton for Saturday's key home match against Sutton United. The pair are sidelined with muscle injuries, dealing a blow to the second-placed side's preparations. The team sits second in the National League with 28 points from nine wins, one draw, and three losses across 13 games, but is seven points behind leaders Boreham Wood.

Williams, 21, is struggling with a thigh strain sustained late in the 1-0 win at Woking on October 10. Manager Simon Weaver confirmed the player is unlikely to recover in time for the weekend, with next Wednesday a more realistic target.

"Morgan came off at Woking after feeling something in the top of his thigh during the last five or 10 minutes of that game," Weaver said.

Williams missed both recent FA Cup ties against Bury, including Tuesday's 3-1 victory that extended Harrogate's unbeaten run to five matches. The club, who have taken 28 points from 13 games to sit second, will monitor his progress closely. That victory over Bury was part of a strong recent run of four wins and a draw from their last five matches, following results against Woking, AFC Hornchurch, Hartlepool, and Eastleigh.

Defensive reshuffle required

Centre-half Grant Horton joins long-term absentees Tom Lees and Bryn Morris in the treatment room after limping off in the first half of that cup replay. He is expected to be out for two to three weeks with a hamstring problem.

Weaver explained.

His absence forces a defensive reshuffle for the visit of 13th-placed Sutton United, which kicks off at 12.30pm at Wetherby Road. Harrogate's strong recent form, which includes four wins and a draw from their last five league games, will be tested by these absences. The team has scored 29 goals and conceded 17 this season, giving them a goal difference of plus twelve.

Weaver's squad, which has scored 29 goals this season, must now find solutions from within. Weaver stated.

The next fixture is at home to Sutton United on Saturday 24 October.

The original report is at wetherbynews.co.uk