Luke Croll also absent with concussion issue
Exeter City will be without Pierce Sweeney until at least the new year after the right-back injured his ankle in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Luton Town.
The former Reading academy player has seen a specialist and is waiting for the result of a scan to determine whether he will need surgery. However, City do not expect Pierce to be available until at least January.
The news will be a big blow to the Grecians as Pierce has appeared in 25 games for the club, since joining in the summer, which is more than any other player this campaign. He has impressed at both right-back and centre-half.
The news also comes on the back of Luke Croll’s absence from the side due to concussion issues. The defender, who also plays at right-back and centre-half, suffered concussion during City’s 3-0 win over Morecambe on Saturday, October 29.
And while Luke, who is on loan to City until January 14, has made appearances since the game at the Globe Arena, the symptoms of his concussion have reoccurred. Therefore, both City and his parent club Crystal Palace are looking into the issue in the hope that they can clear up the problem.
There is good news in the fact that Troy Brown has returned to the starting XI, playing all 90 minutes of the 0-0 draw against Luton, but Paul Tisdale admitted the disruption to his defence is a cause for concern.
“We haven’t had the best of luck in terms of injuries to our defensive unit this season and both Luke and Pierce will be sorely missed,” he said. “They have both played very well this campaign and, having picked up an impressive clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Leyton Orient, I was hopeful that I might be able to name a more consistent backline over the coming months.
We wish them both a successful and speedy recovery.”
There is better news on the injury front though as Lee Holmes has returned to full training – after being knocked unconscious in the 3-2 defeat to Carlisle United on Saturday, November 19, while Ryan Harley and Jordan Tillson – who have also been long-term absentees through injury – played 45 minutes of a reserve team fixture against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday.