STRIKER Lee Jones limped away from Wrexham's training ground on crutches yesterday, delivering a massive blow to the club's hopes for a successful Christmas.

The 30-year-old former Welsh international, who is the Dragons' leading scorer this season with seven goals from 15 starts, has torn a hamstring and definitely misses the Boxing Day trip to Stockport County.

And, while the extent of the problem will not be known for a couple of days, he is also likely to sit out next week's home games against Blackpool next Sunday and against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday week.

Manager Denis Smith described the injury as a major blow because it means he has only two fully-fit strikers in Chris Llewellyn and Hector Sam for the traditionally hectic holiday schedule of three games in eight days.

"Hopefully it's not as bad an injury as it first seems but Lee went down as though he'd been shot," said the Dragons boss.

"He will be gutted and it's very disappointing for the lad and for us. It's not an ideal situation to be going into these three games with just two strikers.

"And when all's said and done, he is my top scorer and we don't want to be losing any players at this stage of the season."

There is a slight chance that Chris Armstrong, now close to fitness after a knee injury, will be involved at some stage of the festive programme but Smith is only too aware the former Spurs man is desperately short of match practice.

"I don't know exactly how close he is," he said. "He's been out this morning working with Mel Pejic and we'll need to see if he will be available for Boxing Day.

"I had hoped he might be able to start on the bench and, with Craig Morgan also fit, I was expecting to have a full complement of players, with the exception of Darren Ferguson, to take to Stockport."

But physiotherapist Pejic was less optimistic. He said: "Chris must be doubtful for Friday because he is still feeling some reaction from his knee.

"Lee was in a lot of pain when he went down five minutes before the end of the session.

"It needs a couple of days to settle down but I have to say it doesn't look too good at the moment."

Jones, who was picked up by his wife because he was unable to drive home, could hardly believe his misfortune. "It could not have come at a worse time, but what can you do?" he said.

"I've just come back after two weeks out with a calf injury which happened in training and I felt really good against Peterborough.

"Then this happens just five minutes before we were due to finish today."

Smith, who has been bedevilled by injuries to front players since the start of the season, is now keeping his fingers crossed that Llewellyn and Sam remain fit over Christmas.

"I suppose some people will say that Hector should be in the side anyway but Lee has the knack of putting away most of the chances that come his way," he said.

"If another striker goes down, though, I might have to look at using Mark Jones up front or even at changing the system.

It's a headache we could do without, especially at this time of the year."