SWINDON Town club captain Dion Conroy is unlikely to play again this season after undergoing knee surgery this week.

Central defender Conroy was forced off during Town’s defeat at home to Newport County in League Two on September 28 and went under the knife on Wednesday.

Following the 23-year-old’s operation, Swindon manager Richie Wellens revealed Conroy is not expected to back in full training for six months.

Therefore, that would make a return to the Town team before the campaign is over highly unlikely.

“In terms of full training, we are looking at around six months,” said Wellens.

“I always err on the side of caution and I have to take it that he is not going to be back for the rest of the season.

“If he then appears with six or seven weeks left, what a bonus that would be.”

Wellens revealed the extent of Conroy’s injury, with the defender suffering damage to both his medial and posterior collateral ligaments

Conroy fell victim to a similar injury back in September 2017 and did not play again that season.

Wellens says the fact Conroy has already recovered from such a dramatic career setback shows the character of the player and is optimistic he can make another impressive return to the game.

“I think the ACL was the only one still intact, so it is not a great one,” said Wellens.

“You try and take every positive out of it and he has been through this situation before and come out the other side, and actually looks a stronger player for it.

“He needs to make sure that as soon as he is off his crutches and can get his rehab started, then he does that to the very best of his ability.

“That gives him every opportunity to come back as good as he was before he had the injury.”

Conroy’s injury is not the only bad news within the Town camp, with Wellens revealing more players have joined him on the absentee list.

Zeki Fryers, Jordan Lyden and Taylor Curran are all out of Saturday’s home game against Plymouth Argyle in League Two, while Ellis Iandolo, Keshi Anderson and Mathieu Baudry are all doubts.

“Zeki Fryers won’t be fit. Ellis Iandolo had to come off on Tuesday and is struggling,” said Wellens.

“Taylor Curran has a concussion so can’t come in for a week, those are the rules.

"Keshi Anderson has a hamstring issue and Mathieu Baudry is touch-and-go. He has got a bruised heel.

“We are trying our best. I thought he would be fit for Bradford last weekend but he wasn’t and the likelihood is that he probably isn’t going to be fit tomorrow.

“Jordan Lyden has had an injection on his big toe. When you have an injection you can’t train for 72 hours. It’s another one out.

“It is hard at the moment because we have got a long list of injuries. You beat yourself up about what you can do about these injuries but 90 per cent of them are impact injuries. It is just unlucky.

“We have got to keep soldiering on and I still think we have got a far good enough team to win on Saturday.”