Steve Haslam is set to be out of action for a minimum of six weeks after being told he needs a hernia operation.

The defender started the season in the side and, although he's been named mainly as a substitute in recent weeks, his versatility means the news is a blow to Chris Turner.

A regular in the Reserves this term, Haslam will undergo surgery on Wednesday after a specialist advised it was his best option.

"It's very disappointing for me obviously," he told us.

"I've been struggling with the injury for a while but was hoping I'd be able to play through it but it just got to the point where I couldn't continue.

"I went to see the specialist and he's diagnosed a hernia so now I just want to get in, have the operation and then focus on getting back to fitness as quickly as possible," he added.

The 30-year-old joined the Club during the summer, linking up once again with Chris Turner and Colin West, a pair he worked under previously at Sheffield Wednesday.