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Folkestone Invicta could welcome back Carl Rook and Phil Starkey for their FA Cup tie against North Greenford

Folkestone could welcome two key players back from injury when they hit the FA Cup trail on Saturday.

Midfielder Phil Starkey and striker Carl Rook could both be available to manager Neil Cugley when his side host North Greenford of the Combined Counties League.

The first qualifying round tie is worth £3,000 to the winners and Cugley said: "I’m looking forward to it.

Folkestone striker Carl Rook Picture: Gary Browne
Folkestone striker Carl Rook Picture: Gary Browne

"Every club’s the same, we all want the prize money from it. We’re the favourites, we’re at home and want to get through.

"In the past, it’s all been about how we’ve done in the league (with Invicta chasing promotion in Ryman South).

"But you want a cup run and we’ve been unlucky in the last couple of years drawing Tonbridge and Margate, two hard games against teams in higher leagues.

"Hopefully, we can get through. It would be lovely to have a run and consolidate in the Ryman Premier. That’s our aim.

"I think Starkey and Rooky will both play with (Jon) Pilbeam maybe on the bench, so we are a bit stronger."

Starkey missed Monday’s trip to Burgess Hill through illness while a shin injury means Rook hasn’t featured yet this season.

Folkestone head into the cup weekend having picked up seven points from their first six games in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Cugley said: "I don’t think we’ve been outplayed yet. Havant were a little bit above us, they had too much quality on the day but the rest of the games have been fairly even.

Scott Heard makes ground against Needham Market Picture: Gary Browne
Scott Heard makes ground against Needham Market Picture: Gary Browne

"It’s such fine margins and you’ve only got to look at the results in our league. It varies so much from game to game so you’ve got to pick up points against anybody at any time.

"Frankie Chappell and Liam Friend didn’t have one of their better games on Monday but I’m not going to start moaning about them too much.

"That’s the first game they haven’t really played as well as they can do.

"But I’m quite happy with them, happy with my goalie and Scott Heard has been excellent. He’s looked a class player and I can see a big future for him.

"The teams we’re playing against are asking ‘who’s that?’

"It’s been frustrating with Harry Smith going to Millwall, Rooky getting injured and Ben Pattie’s now injured.

"We had Ian Draycott out for a couple of games, so up front it’s been a bit hit-and-miss.

"It’s been a bit frustrating and it has shown that you need a target man at this level."

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