BRANTHAM Athletic boss Paul Skingley expects to be without impressive loanee Jake Dye in tomorrow’s match at Long Melford.

The right-back or centre-half impressed in the recent Thurlow Nunn League premier division games against Fakenham and Mildenhall.

However, parent club Needham Market recalled him last weekend and he came on as a substitute in their Ryman League premier division match at Lewes.

Dye was then in the starting line-up for Tuesday’s goal-less draw at home to Grays Athletic and Skingley expects him to be involved again in tomorrow’s match against Metropolitan Police.

“It’s a real shame, from our point of view,” said the Brantham boss.

“Jake had two decent games for us, against Fakenham and Mildenhall.

“In some respects it’s typical of our season, in the way we’ve had to chop and change throughout.

“But there’s nothing we can do about it.

“Needham are his parent club and you always want to see people playing at the highest level, so we wish him well.

“I’ll speak to (Needham manager) Mark Morsley, but, at the moment, I don’t expect to have Jake available for Melford.”

Josh Merritt has been struggling with a back injury and sat out training on Tuesday.

However, he was hoping to take part in last night’s session and should be fine for tomorrow.

Matt Stace is still struggling with a knee injury and is a couple of weeks away from getting involved again.

Brantham had no game last week but will be hoping to carry on where they left off in their previous match – the 1-0 win at Mildenhall.

It is the first of three straight away games – trips to Newmarket and Stanway Rovers are also looming – and just one of their next six fixtures will take place at the Leisure Centre.

“Melford had a good win on Saturday, so we’re expecting another very tough game,” said Skingley.

“However, we’ll certainly have every chance if we can replicate our performance against Mildenhall.

“Our work-ethic and organisation was spot on and we have to try and reach those same standards again.

“It’s about the boys doing what they’re capable of and it doesn’t make a huge difference to us whether we’re home or away.

“To be honest, we’ve been equally inconsistent both at home and on our travels.

“I can’t put my finger on why that should be the case.

“We try and approach every game in a positive way, but just haven’t been able to put a run of form together.”

Meanwhile, Brantham have been eliminated from the League Challenge Cup.

They had won 2-0 at Wivenhoe Town and were set for a quarter-final trip to Kirkley and Pakefield.

However, they fielded an ineligible player and the league have reinstated Wivenhoe.