DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE have been dealt a huge blow with the news that influential midfielder Stuart Thurgood is expected to miss the campaign through injury.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE have been dealt a huge blow with the news that influential midfielder Stuart Thurgood is expected to miss the campaign through injury.

The 28-year-old hasn't featured since injuring his ankle in the 2-1 home defeat by Rochdale in November.

He tried to make a comeback against Harlow Town in the Essex Senior Cup, but damaged his knee cartilage and although he had hoped to be back by February, manager John Still confirmed this was not the case.

"Stuart is not coming back," he said.

"He's going in for an operation and we probably won't see him again this season, maybe if we get into the play-offs, but I'm not sure.

"We had done so much work with him, Solly (Solomon Taiwo), Peter Gain and Scott Griffiths at the start of the season, and to lose them it's tough. But it's the challenge we put up with."

The Post is now on Twitter, so if you follow twitter.com/Post_DagRed then you will get up to the minute updates on goings on at Victoria Road