Shayman Gardner To Miss Start Of The Season

MIDFIELDER Dan Gardner will miss the start of FC Halifax Town’s Skrill Premier campaign after picking up an injury against Stockport County on Saturday.

Speaking about the severity of the injury, Town physiotherapist Dan Stolworthy told the club’s website: “Most of Dan’s pain is over his lateral ligament area. We’ll have to wait another couple of days to see how it settles down.

“We’re already thinking about booking him in for a scan just to make sure there is no other damage and to know exactly what we’re dealing with.

“Depending on the grade of injury it could be anything from a couple of weeks to about eight weeks if it’s a bad one, but there is no telling at this stage.

“He’s been really looking forward to playing in the first game of the season and he even made a joke about Stockport before the game. It’s bad timing for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Scott McManus should be OK for Town’s season opener with Cambridge United despite being substituted in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat.

Stolworthy added: “He’s overstretched trying to control the ball and he’s just felt a bit of a twinge.

“He’s got a little issue in that area, nothing major, but it’s something we have been working on and we’ve given him a glute programme to take the strain of his back but it isn’t a long term thing.