Frustrated skipper Gari Rowntree said he was 'gutted' to be missing Workington Reds' crucial clash at Ashton United this Saturday.

The defender has had his season ended with a recurrence of a knee injury and will have to go under the knife.

And he has spoke of his frustration at having to sit out the final few games as Reds battle to try and resurrect their season.

After Tuesday night's loss, Reds are currently just outside the play-off places, four points adrift of both Stourbridge and Saturday's opponents Ashton.

"Any time you are not playing, whether through suspension or injury, it is frustrating but especially now," said Rowntree.

"It is my first season as captain and I have got injured right at the end. But there is just nothing I can do.

"I am gutted not to be playing on Saturday but I will be going down to support the lads."

Rowntree admitted that injuries have played a major part in the derailment of Reds's play-off chances this year.

He added: "We have had quite a few injuries, it has just been blow after blow and with such a small squad it is always going to be difficult.

"We were wanting to keep pushing and try and stay in the play-offs and now Saturday is a massive game.

"We just have to keep positive and confident in ourselves but we have to get something from Ashton. Then we can push it to the last week and see if someone else will slip up.

"Hopefully they will but this is probably the biggest game so far for us. Each game is massive but this week's is the biggest of them all."

Rowntree has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and this will be his third knee operation.

"I have had problems with my knees throughout my career," he admitted.

"This will be my third operation on my knees, with one on my left and now a second on my right.

"They are not 100 per cent sure of the exact problem but they think it is to do with an injury I got when I was 19 at Blackburn.

"They are waiting on an MRI to see exactly what the specialist wants to do but he knows he needs to go in."