Western Stars young wicketkeeper Jekon Edness is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks after suffering a nasty blow to his left eye during Stars' 105-run Central Counties win over Police at St.John's Field on Saturday.

Edness was struck in the face as he attempted to glove a Maurice Lowe delivery that rose sharply from a good length.

The Bermuda Under-19 skipper was subsequently rushed to hospital where it was later discovered that he had suffered a hairline fracture near his left eye.

Edness is the son former Stars' keeper Anthony (Porky) Manders.

"I thought the wicket had dried out and figured the ball wouldn't be carrying through," recalled Edness yesterday. "Kevin Hurdle or Saleem Mukuddem weren't bowling, so I figured I'd go up to the stumps."

Lowe's delivery appeared to get a slight edge off Police opener Terry Thomas' bat before striking Edness who lay writhing in pain.

"It (ball) must have hit something because he (Thomas) came forward and it seemed to have hit his pad and rose up," added Edness. "It just jumped up from a good length. If it was short I would've seen that and put my gloves upward to take the catch. But it was off a good length because he pushed forward to the ball."

Edness was recovering at his home yesterday with a severely swollen and bruised left eye.

"My eye is still swollen shut and I can't blow out of my nose because it will effect my sinuses. The last two nights I've had to sleep sitting up because if I lay on my sides blood will go all over the place," he explained. "It could effect the swelling and my face will get worse if I lay on my side.

"After I got struck I had a headache for the remainder of the night (Saturday). But yesterday I was alright and I took some pain killers."

Edness is determined not to let the mishap ruin his Under-19 World Cup aspirations. The player is expected to lead Bermuda in next month's qualifying tournament in Canada.

"I don't think this incident will effect me going abroad. I will take a couple of weeks off before I return to training," he said.

"I know that I will be timid going back up to the stumps, so I will probably wear a helmet for everybody. Before I only used a helmet for Saleem of Hurdle or if the wicket was damp."

Meanwhile, Edness' team-mate Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock is also on the mend after suffering a sprained left ankle attempting to cut off a four on the long-on boundary during the same match.

Leverock had earlier dug his team out of a hole at 84 for five when he scored a maiden unbeaten century (105) in Stars' victory.

The player missed Stars' ten-wicket hammering of Somerset on Sunday and was reported yesterday to be walking with the assistance of crutches.

Also taking bangs over the weekend were PHC batsmen Kevin Dill and bowler Sharon Hunt, who were both hit on the helmet, while wicketkeeper Matthew Lee suffered a bloodied nose after a Gregg Foggo delivery from a good length struck the player full in the face.