Stanton blow for Iron

Scunthorpe will be without Nathan Stanton for six weeks after he underwent surgery.

Scunthorpe will be without Nathan Stanton for six weeks as he prepares for knee surgery.

The defender tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during Saturday's defeat against Brentford. He went under the knife on Thursday in a bid to correct the problem and it is hoped that he will be back early in the New Year.

"It's a hammer blow for us, there's no doubt about that," said Iron boss Brian Laws.

"Nathan had done exceptionally well for us since coming back into the team. He picked up the injury in the last minute of the Brentford game last Saturday, but carried on.

"The next morning he had a scan on the knee and it was then that we discovered the full extent of the problem. He is going in to have an operation, which means he is going to be out for about six weeks.

"It's a thunderbolt, but we have got to get on with things because the next few weeks are going to test our mettle - both mentally and physically. I feel for Nathan too because he has been unlucky with injuries during the past couple of years.

"It's made it a bad week for us, with last night's game being postponed too. Things are not going to plan for us at the moment, but we have some big games coming up and we have to keep focused if we want to be where we want to be."