City hotshot Paul Hakim believes he has a 50-50' chance of overcoming an ankle injury in time for Saturday's Blue Square South clash with FA Cup giantkillers Havant & Waterlooville at Clarence Park.

The striker plunderered his fourth goal in five games in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Thurrock before a heavy challenge forced him out of Easter Monday's 2-0 win over Hayes and Yeading United after 38 minutes.

Despite icing and strapping the ankle, while taking anti-inflammatory tablets to ease the swelling and bruising, Hakim is unlikely to be risked by Saints caretaker boss Steve Castle who will need his star striker operating at full tilt in their battle to avoid the drop.

"My ankle is not the best at the moment," said Hakim on Tuesday. "While I've got a good range of motion I'm in a fair bit of pain. I'll try to keep doing the right things but there is not a lot I can do until Thursday when I will see our physio, Jason Laird.

"I think my chances of playing Saturday are 50-50 at the moment. But you never know, with the right treatment and recovery I might just make it. If I don't, there are other players who can come in such as Simon Martin, who did well when he came on for me."

Hakim was causing United all sorts of problems on Monday which culminated in a few rash challenges from the visitors. The forward now concedes he should not have continued playing after hurting his ankle in an earlier incident.

"I got past one of their guys who fouled me a couple of times," he recalled. "I went to connect with a cross and think I may have struck the ground first and I rolled my ankle. I came back on, ran down the wing and the same player tackled me in the same spot and stood on my ankle. It was feeling very weak when I came back on and maybe that is something I should not have done. I just wanted to stay on for the team."

8:03am Thursday 27th March 2008

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