It has been revealed Boro defender Harry Worley has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament after suffering the injury in the defeat to Southend United last Saturday.

The summer signing from Newport County is likely to miss the rest of the season, and has already been booked in for surgery after an MRI scan confirmed initial fears.

It comes as a bitter blow for Stevenage boss Graham Westley who believed Worley could add that touch of class to the defensive backline.

Speaking to the Comet after the 3-1 home defeat to Wycombe yesterday (Saturday) Westley said: “I think the injury is Harry’s season done.

“That’s a blow, he is a terrific talent, a big strong lad, good in the air, but can play football aswell.

“We saw in pre-season how he got us playing effectively from the back. That’s what we want to do and losing that ability is a body blow.

“But there’s no point crying about it, because it’s happened. We obviously have to help back to full recovery now as best as we can.”

With summer signings Calvin Zola, Chris Beardsley and Dean Parrett still nursing injury, Connor Calcutt picking up a knock in training last week, and Ronnie Henry only just on his way back after a spell on the sidelines, the squad seems somewhat thin on the ground.

But Westley is of the opinion that it’s a case of grin and bear it, and get on with the task at hand.

“We’re not Manchester United, when we lose players on long-term injuries nobody steps up to pay their wages while we look to bring someone else in,” he added.

“We’ve got a League 2 budget and we’ve spent a League 2 budget on our squad.

“We don’t get the opportunity to sign A.N. other just because H [Worley] goes down, it’s one of those things.

“You hope you’re not going to take too many big hits during the season, when one comes along it’s hard, but everybody has to deal with it so there’s no point griping about it.”