League Two pace-setters Forest Green Rovers will be without top-scorer and frontman Matty Stevens for the rest of the season after he sustained an ACL injury against Scunthorpe United last weekend.
Forest Green confirmed on Monday night that the 24-year-old, who has scored 23 goals in 37 games for the Gloucestershire side as the division's second-top scorer, "will face a prolonged period out of action" with the striker not able to return until 2022/23.
Rob Edwards' side have a four-point lead at the top of the table and remain heavy favourites to gain promotion to League One, even in the wake of Stevens' absence, as they have a game in hand over Exeter City in second.
"I want to send my best wishes to him," said Edwards. "I've spoken to him and thanked him for his contribution this season. He is a massive reason for the club being in this position at the moment.
"Our job now as a football club is to give him all the support he needs in his recovery, help him in every way that we can and make sure that when he comes back that he's playing League One football."
Rovers host Forest Green at the Mem on April 23 and Stevens not being part of the starting XI will obviously be a bonus for Joey Barton's side as they look to secure an automatic promotion berth or, at the very least, play-offs.
However, Forest Green also play some of the sides around Rovers in the table, starting with the visit of sixth-placed Mansfield Town tonight who are level on points with the Gas. A win for the hosts would be very much welcomed in north Bristol but Stevens' absence now casts an element of doubt over that.
Edwards' side also play the Stags on the final game of the season, while they travel to 10th-placed Swindon Town (four points behind Rovers) in the fixture immediately after their match at the Mem.
Swindon are also having to deal with the absence of their top-scorer after Harry McKirdy sustained a calf injury last month, however head coach Ben Garner insists it won't keep the 25-year-old sidelined for the remainder of the regular season as was first feared.
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