Stevenage and Fulham keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond out for a month

The on-loan Fulham keeper has been first choice at Stevenage this season and has put in some eye-catching displays.

But he has also been carrying the knee problem for a short time and while he could battle through, consultation with doctors has brought the decision to fix it now.

Boro boss Evans said: "He's just tweaked his knee a little bit and he's got a little tear in his cartilage which is if only about a millimetre.

"But it is a millimetre which causes fluid, which causes stiffness and which causes soreness.

"The scan result tells us he's gone for three but probably no longer than four.

"He can probably get through just by treating it but then the kid wouldn't be out every day on the training ground.

"So the prognosis between the consultant on behalf of Fulham and consultants on behalf of ourselves was a small op.  

"That will be Monday or Tuesday but it will be keyhole and he will be in and out and post that, it is three or four days off and then bang, he goes back into training but with a gradual build-up over the next two weeks."

The news of the injury came out on transfer deadline day and promoted the loan signing of Jokull Andresson from Reading.

He will compete with Aaron Chapman for the starting shirt on Saturday away to Sutton United and Evans also says Ashby-Hammond isn't guaranteed to come straight back in should whoever wins the battle impress in the next few weeks.

The boss said: "Jokull is ready to play. He's been playing regularly for Reading at U23 level and he stepped up and played for Exeter away to MK Dons last Saturday.

"He was keen to come in terms of locality and where we are on the table.

"He's come in and will compete with Aaron. Aaron knows me and no doubt in the next number of days, if he doesn't get the shirt, he'll be in [my office] but everyone has to earn it. Jokull has to earn it, Aaron has to earn it and Taye will be back in a month. Who gets it then?

"Let the best man win, I don't really care."