Injured Ryan set to be out for three weeks

CHELTENHAM Town right wing-back Ryan Jackson will miss two to three weeks with a hamstring picked up during last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Exeter City.

The 32-year-old was forced off just before halftime and replaced by Charlie Raglan, with skipper Sean Long moving from the right of the back three to cover the wing-back position.

Jackson, above, has started the first five of the Robins’ League One matches so far, but has completed only one 90 minutes due to missing the majority of pre-season.

He arrived on a one-year contract on July 21 and featured for the last half an hour of Cheltenham’s final friendly match, a 2-0 home win over Northampton Town.

Jackson was released by Gillingham at the end of last season and he was brought to Cheltenham after it became clear Matty Blair was going to be a long-term absentee with a knee problem.

Midfielder Elliot Bonds is expected to miss around six weeks with a stress fracture to a metatarsal, while 18-year-old striker Zac Guinan is facing a long spell on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury.

The 18-year-old suffered ligament damage during a training session with loan club Cirencester Town.

He had made two Southern League Division One Central starts for John Brough’s team, along with one friendly appearance.

Guinan made his Robins first team debut in the Papa John’s Trophy match against Chelsea Under-21s last season, going on from the bench and converting his spot kick in the penalty shoot-out, which Cheltenham won 5-4.