DEFENSIVE linchpin Craig Hinton is facing up to life without Adie Smith for a while - but he has found a fine replacement in Abdou Sall.

Smith will spend at least a month on the sidelines due to an operation on his long-running groin problem.

However, the giant Sall has already settled with Harriers losing just once in the league with him in the side.

Hinton's return to form after an inspired 2000/2001 campaign has also been a major factor in their revival.

He admitted: "Abdou has certainly got some aerial power. He has been practising that side of his game with Gary Barnett. If he really connects with the ball, it can go a mile.

"He's a real monster of a man for just 21-years-old and he's been playing really well."

The presence of one Frenchman at Aggborough in Parfait Medou-Otye has obviously helped Sall who was born in Senegal.

Hinton, 23, joked: "It makes a change and my French is certainly coming along!"

The former Birmingham City trainee was delighted to gain the points from the Rushden clash with memories of the Conference encounters.

He said: "We started very well in the second half on Saturday and just progressed from there.

"We created more chances and kept a clean sheet as well. We can put it down as one of the best performances of the season.

"The game started at 100mph and there was a great goal from Dean Bennett to settle the game down a bit.

"The change of formation certainly seems to have helped us a lot. We've done well with it again and it seems to be working for us."

Now Harriers are looking ahead to Saturday's visit of old First Division side Luton Town who were relegated from Division Two last season.

Hinton added: "We did well against Bristol Rovers so we're looking forward to playing another side who've come down a division."