Steve Ibbitson is refusing to whinge as his injury-hit Lewes side prepare for a double bill of action.

The Rooks boss has seven of his 18-man squad either missing or doubtful for games at home to Dover tomorrow and away to Welling on Monday.

David Wheeler and Jack Walder have both been ruled out while Anthony Barness, Marc Pullan, Lewis Hamilton, Sonny Cobbs and Jamie Crellin have a chance of playing in one of the two fixtures.

But Ibbitson will not use it as an excuse and is delighted with the way some of his younger players are coming to the fore in times of adversity.

Jordan Lang, 17, is the most notable of those with an eye-catching display at Woking on Saturday when he scored his first senior goal in a 2-1 defeat but Scott Manning, 18, George Jones, 17, and Charlie Leach, 16, have all impressed since the start of the campaign.

Ibbitson said: “I remember last year we had a few injuries but never so early in the season. Most of the players haven’t got to the start of the season which has been a particular problem.

“We have looked at our training to see if that is the problem but it isn’t, it is just down to particularly bad luck.

“We took a lot of positives from the game at Woking on Tuesday. In the second half we played particularly well, especially as I had five of my squad sitting in the stand behind me, four of which would be automatic starters.

“It is no use whinging about it, you just have to get on with it. Without these injuries, some of the younger players would not have had their chance so soon.

“Jordan Lang particularly pleased me at Woking as he was the player who really got us going. He is only 17, not the biggest or strongest but he worked his socks off and used what physical attributes he has to the best affect.

“In the second half we brought on George Jones, 17, Arron Hopkinson, 18, and Tom Murphy, 18, to go with Jordan and Ross Sutton, who is just 18 (and Manning, 18) and we battered them. It was just a case we couldn’t put the ball in the net.

“It is disappointing to have people out but the kids who have come in have done great.”

Experienced centre-back Pullan came off at half-time at Woking but it was with a tight calf, rather than a recurrence of the knee injury which forced him to miss the start of the season, and Ibbitson expects him to be available for one game this weekend.

Skipper Barness (hamstring), Cobbs (groin) and Hamilton (hamstring) are all making progress and, while they are not expected to feature tomorrow, they could be involved at Welling. The same applies to young midfielder Crellin, who would have featured so far but for a back problem.

Wheeler is back in training after picking up a virus while doing charity work in Ghana but Ibbitson does not expect him to be ready for match action until next weekend while Lewes are still waiting to see how long they will be without Walder, who was expected to be a key member of their midfield this season.

Walder suffered knee ligament damage after falling off scaffolding at work and Ibbitson brought in cover this week in the shape of former Horsham and Hastings midfielder Lee Carey.

The former Albion apprentice is with Lewes for the next two or three weeks, during which time a decision will be made by both parties on his long-term future, which could depend on the extent of Walder’s injury.

Carey has a good reputation in Sussex football and Ibbitson likes what he has seen. He said: “He is just the sort of bright, energetic central midfielder that we like here.”