Louie Theophanous, St Albans City’s marquee signing of the summer, could miss Saturday’s game against Ebbsfleet United after injuring his knee in Monday’s 3-1 loss to Oxford City.

Theophanous scored the Saints’ only goal of the night, and his first for the club, after linking up with fellow new signing Lewis Hilliard.

The goal was ultimately in vain but the former Farnborough front man had a good game, showing the strength, pace and touch that made him the league’s highest scorer two seasons ago when he got 26 for Staines Town.

But City could be without their only goalscorer this season on Saturday after he ‘tweaked’ his knee in a challenge with Jose Lapoujade towards the end of the Oxford game.

He carried on for the rest of the match but joint manager James Gray didn’t sound very positive about his prospects in his post-match interview.

“We’ll have to assess him and see where he is for Saturday, but it’s not looking good at the minute, which is disappointing,” said Gray.

“We’ve got a squad so we’ll have to adapt. We’re going to have to get the squad fit and refreshed and get the tactics right for Saturday. It’s Ebbsfleet so it’s not going to be easy.”

If Theophanous can’t go on Saturday, Simon Thomas looks set to start, possibly alongside Billy Medlock if the managers opt for two strikers.

Gray is optimistic that Darren Locke will have recovered from his ankle injury in time for Saturday. Locke received treatment towards the end of Monday’s game and, with all the subs already used, had to be moved up front.

“He’s got a swollen ankle but the physio thinks it might be an impact injury,” said Gray.

“We’ll ice it and hopefully he’d be ready for Saturday.”

In other team news, Danny Green could be out for up to three months with a broken nose and Steve Wales remains at least a weeks away from returning to the squad following a hamstring injury.