Op for Evans (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Op for Evans

RHYS Evans will have surgery on his injured right knee in the next couple of days although it looks like the goalkeeper's worst fear won't be realised as he goes under the knife.

The 23-year-old saw a surgeon at the Ridgeway Hospital in Wroughton yesterday where it was decided to go ahead with an operation.

If all goes smoothly then the Swindonian is likely to be out of action until early October, although it is too early for a precise timescale.

His knee has quite literally been a nagging pain since early pre-season and the keeper is just relieved that the problem is at last being addressed.

It has been fine one day, agony the next and enough is enough for the former Chelsea man.

He said: "Having met with the surgeon he seemed to think it is something to do with the joint's surface and perhaps a cartilage. He doesn't seem to think it's ligament damage and that's a relief. I would have been really, really disappointed if he'd pointed to that as a likely problem.

"I had a ligament injury during my last year at Chelsea and it's not something you'd want to repeat.

"The surgeon asked me how soon I wanted the operation carried out and I think he got the message when I replied 'yesterday'. It should happen in the next few days.

"You just hope there's no nasty surprises when he goes in there but I guess it's a relief that it's finally being dealt with.

"Until you know what the problem is you're paddling around in the dark to some extent."

Evans joked it was then a case of swapping one kind of stress for another. He said: "You've the worry of trying to find out what the problem is and then the question of working to get yourself back fit again."

How long Evans' road to recovery proves to be is not clear.

He said: "You just don't know but it's obviously going to be several weeks before you're in a position to put yourself back in contention again."