Gillingham have been hit with another injury blow which will see Norwich loan man Dan Adshead needing surgery on a broken foot.

Adshead limped off on Saturday in the 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth and it’s been confirmed that the 20-year-old has suffered a broken metatarsal bone.

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He is on a season-long loan from the Premier League side and has made 19 appearances for the Gills, starting regularly in recent weeks.

Beleaguered boss Evans, who had seven senior players missing before the weekend, said: “We have had it since the start of the season and every time we play a game we fear we are going to have another injury.

“In the last two or three weeks Dan had got himself established back in the team and starting matches, he is a young kid who I think the world of.”

His operation is due on Friday, the day after club captain Kyle Dempsey is due his own op for a cartilage injury.

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Adshead is almost certainly likely to be out until the new year. The club will consider how the rehab is going before making any decisions on the loan situation. Evans has a good relationship with Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber as well as the club’s new boss Dean Smith.

“We need to get the first four or five weeks out the way and then see exactly where he is,” Evans added.

Defender Max Ehmer also took a knock in that game, hurting his shoulder, but he’s expected to rejoin training at the end of this week.