Tom Clarke has torn his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his right knee and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The versatile 22-year old was injured in a 50-50 challenge late on in the Play-Off semi-final home leg against Millwall last Saturday and received the diagnosis following a scan on Monday.

First Team Physio Dave Buckby described how his recovery will progress today:

"Tom will be wearing a brace on his right knee for the next six weeks, which should allow his MCL to heal naturally," Buckby told htafc.com.

"When the brace comes off at that point he will be re-evaluated, and a decision on when the operation to reconstruct his ACL will take place will then be made."

The unfortunate defender has had lengthy lay-offs through injury during his career; he tore the ACL in his left knee in an innocuous tackle during a League One home game against Carlisle United in October 2006, which forced him out for 11 months.

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