ANDY Procter's season is hanging in the balance.
The Accrington Stanley midfielder is waiting to find out whether he needs surgery to repair a cruciate knee ligament.
Procter will undergo keyhole surgery on his left knee to reveal the extent of the damage. Should he require an operation, the 22-year-old could be sidelined for around six months.
It is a major setback for Procter, who spent much of last season on the sidelines with a similar problem.
"The specialist is going to do keyhole surgey to verify what the problem is," he said.
"He has told me that he can only test how strong my cruciate is if I'm unconscious, so that's where we're up to at the moment.
"It depends what the surgeon says as to how long I'll be out.
"I haven't got full range of movement in my knee so all I can do at the moment is weights in the gym. Hopefully next week I'll be able to do a bit of swimming.
"But it's a nightmare and so frustrating."
The injury is a massive blow for Procter, who missed big chunks of last season with knee problems after getting injured in a pre-season friendly with Wolves.
Now, after suffering a recurrence in training two weeks ago, the midfield man suffers an anxious wait.
"It's hard to watch the games, especially when the team's winning and celebrating in the changing rooms and you can't join in," Procter added.
"But if it means missing the rest of the season to get it sorted out then I can work towards next season, then so be it.
"I just want it sorting now."
Meanwhile, Stanley assistant boss Jimmy Bell has hailed Anthony Barry as one of the reasons behind the Reds' early season success.
The young midfielder has been an ever-present in the Stanley side so far this season, which is a great achievement considering he was initially signed as a squad player.
"We thought that Anthony might not be strong enough in midfield yet because he's still a young lad, but as it's worked out he's been absolutely fantastic," said Bell ahead of tomorrow's trip to Dagenham and Redbridge (kick-off 3pm).
"His attitude and everything has been brilliant and I think he's one of the reasons why we're doing so well.
"Anthony was signed to be a squad player. But his work ethic is fantastic and he's earned the right to get in the first team. He's a little pocket dynamo."
Bell added that he had also been impressed by summer signing Andy Mangan.
"We've always been looking for a youthful forward with a bit of pace and Andy came along at the right time," he said.
"He's on the fringe of the first team, but when he's come off the bench in games he has done well."
And Stanley will be hoping for more of the same from their young guns when they travel to the Victoria Road Stadium tomorrow.
"We have had a couple of great results there in the last couple of seasons," said Bell.
"They had a good draw on Tuesday at York and they have had a great start. But we have got four wins on the bounce and we will be going there to make it five."
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