EASTERN striker Paul Nixon has been ruled out of tonight's Emperor Exchange Challenge Shield semi-final against Sing Tao at Mongkok Stadium.
The 30-year-old former Bristol Rovers forward, who has scored three goals this season, aggravated a thigh injury in training and will miss his second successive game.
He picked up the injury during Eastern's 6-1 victory over Rangers in the Shield quarter-final on November 4 and was unavailable for the league game against Voicelink last Thursday, when he was replaced in the club's five-strong overseas players quota by Tony Sealy.
Nixon was hoping to recover in time for tonight's semi-final but suffered a setback and spent yesterday at the doctor's rather than on the training ground. Sealy, who has scored twice this season, will continue to deputise up front alongside six-goal centre forward Dale Tempest.
Elsewhere in the Eastern lineup, veteran sweeper Wong Kwok-on, who joined the club from Ernest Borel in the summer, will partner Chan Chi-keung in the centre of defence as Chiu Chun-ming recovers from recent surgery.
Eastern, the Shield holders and unbeaten league leaders, beat Sing Tao 2-1 in a First Division game six weeks ago with goals from Tim O'Shea and Tam Siu-wai.
