KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will be without injured skipper Mark Blake for at least eight months.
The influential midfielder was carried off with Achilles tendon trouble in last Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Carlisle United and underwent surgery on Wednesday.
Blake, who is 32 today, will now spend the next six weeks in plaster before starting on the long haul to full fitness.
Aggborough manager Jan Molby, who suffered a similar injury during his playing days with Liverpool, said: "It's much worse than we imagined and he will be out for a minimum of eight months.
"It's desperately disappointing for us, but even more so for him. It's a serious injury, especially at this stage in his career.
"It's an injury that's difficult to overcome. It will take a lot of determination and hard work for him to get himself back playing again, but fortunately he's the type of character who is well equipped to do just that. He will do whatever it takes to get himself back on the pitch."
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