Stevenage boss Darren Sarll insists the club will do all they can to help Tom Conlon recover from a cruciate knee ligament injury that has ruled him out of action for up to nine months.

The 20-year-old midfielder suffered the injury after coming on as a 76th minute substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 Sky Bet League Two victory over Luton Town.

Speaking to the Comet, Sarll said: “It’s very sad, the boys can’t control how or when that type of injury is going to occur, I mean nobody was around him, he puts his foot down, knee twists in the wrong direction and it’s six-nine months [out].

“It’s just inconceivable really to try and compare, and try and work out, why or how it happened or why and how we could have prevented it.

“It’s just something they are susceptible to and really sadly it has happened after he’s entered the field as a substitute, but he will get unbelievable support and treatment from us.

“We’ll make sure Tom Conlon comes back better.

“The quicker Tom can get his head around trying to improve himself, it might even have to be his upper body getting himself stronger for when he does come back and he becomes a better physical athlete because of this then it’s a benefit in the long term.

“At the moment he’ll be at a place where he wants to get his operation over and done with and look at that long, tough arduous road ahead.

“He will get support from within, he’s one of us, he’s part of our family and we’ll support him through thick and thin.”