Newport County have confirmed that midfielder Kieron Evans is set to be sidelined for between four and six weeks after suffering an injury against Barrow last weekend.
The 23-year-old joined the Exiles on a season-long loan in August from Championship outfit Cardiff City. Having enjoyed successful temporary stints in the National League with Torquay United and Gateshead, it was hoped that a step up to League Two would be the next step in his development.
Evans has enjoyed a significant amount of game time at Rodney Parade, starting 11 successive games before dropping to the bench against Barrow on Saturday. He has also chipped in with two goals and four assists in all competitions, making a total of 30 appearances.
Evans Picks Up Calf Injury
The club confirmed this afternoon that Evans will miss a chunk of action. In a short statement, they said:
“Newport County can confirm that midfielder Kieron Evans is set to be sidelined for up to 4-6 weeks after sustaining a calf injury during Saturday’s match against Barrow.
“The 23-year-old, who joined the Exiles on loan from Cardiff City in August, was brought off in the second half of Saturday’s match and will now focus on his rehabilitation as he looks to make a full recovery.”
It is a bitter blow for the Welsh-based outfit, who are still fighting for their lives in the bottom half of League Two. Their relegation fears have eased somewhat over the past week though, with a draw against Salford City and a win over Barrow moving them up to 19th. They are also now seven points above 23rd-placed Morecambe, who they host tonight.
News of Evans’ injury coincided with the announcement that the club had captured the signature of Welsh midfielder Keenan Patten, subject to EFL approval.
Writer’s View
Although Evans dropped to the bench for Newport’s most recent outing, he has still been a key member of their squad this season. With their League Two status still in the balance, this news isn’t ideal, although both the player and the club will be relieved that the injury isn’t any worse. The midfielder will be able to return for the business end of the campaign, whilst the arrival of Patten will soften the blow somewhat.