Scunthorpe United manager Andy Butler has confirmed that winger Kyle Hurst has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after a scan revealed medial ligament damage.
Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside ahead of his 100th game in charge on Saturday, Butler confirmed the Doncaster Rovers loanee has damaged his MCL rather than his ACL but will not play again this campaign.
Hurst blow
Butler had feared an ACL rupture when Hurst was forced off during the Iron’s recent 2-1 win over Altrincham at Glanford Park. A scan on Tuesday brought some relief, though the winger still faces two to three months out which effectively ends his loan spell with the Iron.
“We thought he’d done the ACL,” Butler said. “Fortunately it’s only a slight sprain in the MCL, so it’s about two to three months.
“It could have been a year out. That’s a long time in football, especially when that affects contracts. Three months is probably best case scenario for him, but it’s not career-ending.”
With the loan registration deadline falling on Thursday, Butler confirmed Scunthorpe will speak to Doncaster about Hurst’s rehabilitation arrangements.
Butler was eager to put Hurst’s contribution in a positive light. “I still think he’s a great player and we do like him as a person,” he said. “He had a brilliant impact. There were a couple of corners that went astray, but he was good during the game and that’s what I know he can do.”
Iron sit fifth with eight games left
Scunthorpe head to Essex fifth in the National League on 70 points, 11 points clear of eighth-placed Halifax Town and just one behind fourth-placed Boreham Wood. Butler acknowledged the run-in will be demanding: “We’ve put ourselves in a good position,” he said. “Seventy points with eight games remaining is an incredible achievement.”
Three wins from the last four games, including Tuesday’s 2-1 victory at Truro City, have reinvigorated the Iron’s play-off push after a difficult mid-season run. “When everyone takes a check and looks at what we’ve done, it’s not a bad run at all,” Butler said. “Even in that difficult spell we still got a win and a draw from those seven games.”
Boyce fine; Belehouan closing in on a return
Andrew Boyce is fit after being substituted at Truro City as a precaution following a facial injury. “His eyes swelled a little bit, so we didn’t want him hindered by a lack of vision during the game,” Butler explained. Ross Barrows, who replaced him, earned the manager’s praise for his display.
Jean Belehouan made the trip to Truro as part of his comeback from injury but was not ready for game time. Butler confirmed the centre-back should be available from here on in. Will Evans is expected to return towards the end of next week, with the Halifax fixture looking the more realistic target.
Rowley escapes a ban, Roberts available
Joe Rowley’s tenth yellow card of the season at Truro City will not trigger a suspension, as the booking came after the automatic ban cut-off point. “He’s got to be careful because he’s now on 15 for a three-match ban,” Butler noted, “but in terms of a suspension right now, there isn’t one.” Butler described Rowley as “exceptional” in his role this season.
Callum Roberts is available after responding well to an injection, though Butler confirmed the winger has missed training since Monday. “He’s reacted really well and is available for this one. Just got to be mindful that he hasn’t had much training,” he said.
Braintree danger not to be underestimated
Butler was wary of Braintree’s physical threat despite the hosts sitting second-bottom and scrapping to avoid relegation.
“We have to be defensively resolute first and foremost. If we don’t do the basics, we get punished”, he added.
He balanced that caution with confidence in his own forward line, pointing to Leo Farrell’s recent goals and the early impact of winger Pat Jones. “The impact Pat has had already, pulling across the box for a brilliant delivery, it’s been great,” Butler said. “We’ve got loads of options that can make us a real threat.”
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