Joe Francis scored 23-goals for King's Lynn last season

King's Lynn talisman Joe Francis has suffered a rib injury less than a fortnight before the new season starts.

The striker collided with Norwich keeper Stuart Nelson during a friendly against a Norwich City XI at The Walks.

Francis, 21, was The Linnets' top scorer as they won promotion to Conference level football for the first time in the club's history last season.

"He'll have it X-rayed just to check it over," Lynn manager Keith Webb told BBC Radio Norfolk. "We'll monitor it."

Francis had only been on the pitch for 18 minutes, having come on as a second-half substitue.

He tried to play on after challenging for a high ball with Nelson but looked in a lot of pain as he was helped off the pitch holding his left side.

The match ended 2-2 with Luke Daley and Kris Renton putting a youthful Canaries line-up 2-0 ahead at the break.

Julian Joachim scored his first goal in a King's Lynn shirt before being replaced by Francis.

The Linnets equalised with a stoppage time penalty, scored by John Turner after he was brought down by Nelson.

King's Lynn start their campaign in Blue Square North away to Burscough on 9 August.