Medical tests during the week revealed the local lad suffered a dislocated knee, ruptured knee ligaments and a fractured knee-cap during Town's clash at Daventry United last Saturday.

Cottingham had to be airlifted to hospital in Coventry during only his third game since returning to the club from Whittlesey in the Peterborough League.

Shocked Huntingdon boss Darren Young said: "It is a very, very, very nasty injury and everyone at the club is absolutely gutted for Ben.

"He is a lovely lad who had only just come back to the club.

"He came along to see the lads at training on Wednesday night and everyone wished him a speedy recovery.

"I know all about this sort of thing as I ruptured by own knee ligaments when I was 20 and had to have an operation to insert a carbon cruciate."

Cottingham joins a long list of Huntingdon absentees for their return to the Northamptonshire town tomorrow when they face runaway Division One leaders Daventry Town in the United Counties League.

The table-toppers are unbeaten all season and dropped their only points on the opening day of the campaign, so Young could be forgiven for worrying about heading into battle without a number of key men.

Along with the sidelined Cottingham, Tom Moran, Dominic Piggott, Finlay Clarkson and Adam Taylor are all ruled out tomorrow, but frontman James Edwards is expected to be fit.

Young added: "Why can't we be the team that beats Daventry? We have a lot of players missing, but we will put out a side that will definitely give Daventry a run for their money.

"They are miles clear and have a massive budget, but they don't have the facilities to go up and that means the race for promotion is wide open.

"We are there in the thick of it, but we need to get some consistency back into our results because we have struggled to put a run together since Christmas."

Northern Star are another side vying for a top finish in this level. They go to Bugbrooke tomorrow.

n WISBECH are bidding to continue their tremendous record against the biggest strugglers in the Ridgeons Premier Division tomorrow.

After already completing doubles over Newmarket, Ipswich Wanderers, Harwich and Swaffham, Wisbech face Histon Reserves at Fenland Park tomorrow.

The Fenmen triumphed in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign as they launched their recovery act from a torrid start under the inspired guidance of Roy McManus.

The manager said: "The lads have worked really hard in training and matches to get us up the table, but we need to carry it on.

"It is always important to beat the teams below you in the table and we have been making a habit of that this season. I just hope it continues tomorrow."

Long-term injury victim Paul Cousins is out of plaster after a broken foot and could be back in contention next month.