STRUGGLING Leigh RMI have suffered another blow with skipper Gareth Stoker ruled out of action with an ankle injury.

The combative midfielder has played through the pain barrier for the past few weeks but has been told to see a specialist as he now needs surgery to cure the problem.

"He has been feeling the ankle for some time and I have seen him wincing as he goes into a tackle," said manager Geoff Lutley. "He is 31 years old and needs to get it sorted out straight away if he wants to continue playing."

Stoker's loss could be tempered by the return of the experienced Karl Rose, who has recovered from knee surgery and could feature in Saturday's home game with York City.

The Railwaymen, frustrated by the postponement of their league clash with Carlisle on Saturday, are in action on Tuesday night at Northwich Vics in the third round of the Carthium Cup, a knockout competition for Conference teams.

It will be the first of three meetings against the Cheshire side in six weeks as the two league matches postponed over the Christmas period have been rescheduled for February 15, at Hilton Park, and away on March 15.

"We are hoping to put some good performances together," said Lutley. "It has been a disappointing time for me since I took over, but I have brought in a few new faces and I expect them to improve the team.

"What we now need is for the new players to get the chance to gel, but we have been frustrated by postponements.

"They will get a chance tonight, and I hope we can carry on like we did in our previous game there when we were leading 2-1 at half-time, only for the game to be abandoned. Northwich will not be taking us lightly."

Leigh will give a debut to new signing Ashley Scothern, a former Barnsley striker who joined them from Bradford Park Avenue, while Lutley also hopes to sign left full-back Lee Hoolickan this week from Penrith.

RMI will have a blank weekend on Saturday, February 5, as the game with Canvey Island has been postponed, with the Londoners in FA Trophy action.