AFC TOTTON fear midfielder Liam Crook’s season may be over.

The Stags signed 29-year-old Crook in the summer to add some bite to midfield.

But they lost him to a knee injury in mid-August and the former Hamble Club captain is now resigned to going under the knife.

“Crooky will be having an operation in the next few weeks,” confirmed manager Louis Langdown.

“He’s having an MRI today (Friday), but it looks like it’s cartilage-related.

"It may be that he’ll be back for the last month of the season, but we’re not going to see him for the foreseeable future.”

It’s been a torrid time injury-wise for Totton, but there are some chinks of light appearing.

Skipper Jack Masterton is back from a dislocated shoulder, Stuart Green played a half of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Cirencester and Jack Smith is feeling better after a bout of tonsillitis.

Connor York, Flavio Tavares, Charlie Gunson and Shane Murphy remain sidelined, however, and young midfielder Alex Haynes was forced off at half-time last weekend.

This Saturday the Stags welcome Bristol Manor Farm to the Testwood Community Stadium (3pm) hoping for a repeat of last season.

“We beat them 3-2 and 3-1 last year. Both were really good games with good goals,” said Langdown.

“We’ve got Melksham here on Tuesday (7.45pm), so that’s two good, tough games at home.”