Hudson faces lengthy lay-off

Last updated : 03 August 2007 By Millersmad staff
Mark Robins' plans for the new season took a blow today, after a scan on Mark Hudson's knee revealed medial ligament damage, says the Star . The midfielder is expected to spend at least six weeks out of action and may yet require surgery, which would mean a much longer spell on the sidelines.

Hudson, one of the key components in Robins' rebuilt midfield, caught his studs in the Millmoor turf whilst making a tackle in Tuesday night's game against Sheffield United. He left the field on a stretcher and went straight to hospital, where he underwent the tests that brought today's bad news.

With Danny Harrison also struggling with injury and Tom Cahill ruled out after knee surgery three weeks ago, Robins' squad is already depleted before a ball has been kicked in the 2007/8 season. With Marc Joseph now fit, it seems likely that Dale Tongue will be asked to fill in at central midfield for the opening matches.

Hudson's injury might open the way for the Millers to offer a contract to trialist Kyle Jacobs. Jacobs, who came through the ranks at Mansfield and who had a brief spell with Macclesfield last year, has featured as a substitute in a number of the pre-season games and played against Belper last night in a side made up mainly of youth team players (plus Mills and Fleming). Robins told to the Star that a decision on his future would be made tomorrow.

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