JAMIE Beasley is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a sickening head injury during the defeat of Tonbridge Angels.

The Magpies’ midfielder sustained a broken cheekbone and damage to his eye socket and jaw when going up for a high ball in the second half of Tuesday night’s game.

He had only been on the field for some 15 minutes when the incident occurred having replaced Danny Way at half-time.

Dorchester Town manager Phil Simkin told Echosport yesterday that Beasley is due to be operated on this weekend.

And Beasley’s misfortune brought back some horrible memories for Simkin, who suffered the same injury when he was younger.

“I did the same thing when I was 19 and when they carried me off, I thought I was never going to play again,” he said.

“There was an almighty bang when it happened and it was like a cartoon where the character gets hit on the head and literally sees stars. I had to have an operation and steel pins all down one side of my face.”

Simkin, who was out of the game for five months, continued: “Jamie is in a bad way at the moment and I feel really sorry for the lad because I’ve been there myself.

“I don’t know if he blacked out but he was on the ground for a while and in a lot of pain.

“We’ve got to make sure we do everything we can for the lad because the next few months are going to be tough for him.

“And not only will it take a few months to heal but there’s also the psychological effects it could have.

“When I started back playing and had to jump for a ball I was trying to shield my face with my arm.”

On a positive note, Simkin has added another player to his squad ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Concord Rangers.

Like Ryan Case, who joined the Magpies on Monday, Clive Makoni has signed non-contract terms having previously been at AFC Bournemouth with Case.

The forward appeared for AFC Totton earlier this season and, with injuries affecting the Dorchester ranks, his arrival couldn’t come at a better time.

“Clive was in the Bournemouth set-up but didn’t have the best of luck with injuries,” added Simkin. “We’ve taken him on board and will see what he can do.”

Simkin expects Josh Wakefield to shake off a dead leg in time for this weekend, while Alex Godfrey is nursing a sore back, Way tweaked a hamstring on Tuesday and Harry Bell is still out with an ankle injury.

And the Magpies’ chief also told Echosport that there could be a third new face at the Avenue soon, though whether that deal comes to fruition before the Concord game remains to be seen.