Alfreton Town assistant manager Russ O'Neill says the club's injury crisis is finally starting to ease.

The Reds were beaten 2-0 by AFC Telford on Tuesday but O'Neill said the fact they picked up no new injuries means it was not a disastrous result.

"We have been absolutely murdered by injuries over the past few weeks," he said. "On Tuesday, we were one player away from having half our squad out.

"But we can now start to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

Captain Kyle McFadzean and central defender Richard Pell (both hamstring), and midfielders Lloyd Kerry (hamstring) and Kris Bowler (groin) all missed the midweek reverse.

People can then start to judge us when we have got a few more players back Reds assistant boss Russ O'Neill

But top-scorer Liam Hearn returned from a hamstring injury and illness to play the last 25 minutes of the game.

And with a lengthy break looming after Saturday's home fixture against Hyde United, O'Neill said things were looking up.

"No team at our level can get away with having six and seven players injured," he added.

"We can't wait to get this Saturday's game played and then get ten days' rest round us.

"People can then start to judge us when we have got a few more players back."

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