Workington Reds will be without centre forward Matty Tymon for up to a month as they prepare for tomorrow night’s big game at Salford City.

The former Hartlepool striker left the bus on Saturday night on crutches after suffering an ankle injury in the 1-1 draw at Frickley.

A subsequent hospital check in his native north east revealed a chipped bone in his ankle and he has to go back today for a further assessment.

Tymon, who had been struggling in recent weeks with a foot problem, turned his ankle in a tackle at Westfield Lane and was forced to retire. His replacement, Gareth Arnison, scored the equaliser a minute later with virtually his first touch.

Arnison was returning from an absence caused by a long-running health issue and, although not fully fit, may be given a starting role at Salford.

Manager Derek Townsley said: “Matty has been told he will be out of action for three to four weeks and has to go back to hospital today. We will just have to see what we can do in the meantime but at least we got Gareth back into action and he took his goal very well.

“In the end I think a draw was a fair result and I know the Frickley manager felt the same. My disappointment was that having dominated and drawn level we didn’t push on from there. I thought that should have been the signal for us to take control and get the win.

“But it was a pretty solid effort away from home and there were some good performances. I certainly can’t fault the lads for effort.”

Such is the congestion in the top half of the Evo Stik Premier table that Reds dropped from the last play-off place to ninth as a result of their draw. Just four points cover the teams from fifth to twelfth.

So it’s another big week for the West Cumbrians as they travel to third in the table Salford on Tuesday before hosting sixth-placed Ilkeston at Borough Park on Saturday.

Meanwhile Reds are now waiting for the draw for the quarter final of the Cumberland County Cup after all but one of the third round ties have now been completed.

Townsley’s men got through last Tuesday with a 5-0 win at Whitehaven Amateurs.