Keith Hill has confirmed that Andy Cannon requires an operation on his fractured cheek bone and will miss the remainder of the season.
The midfielder picked up the injury in Dale’s game against Fleetwood Town at the Crown Oil Arena last Tuesday, and Hill says he will be missed.
“He’s due in today [Thursday] for an operation, so he’ll be out for the remainder of the season,” said Hill.
“It’s a miss, and it’s hard for Andy and hard for the team.
“But when you’re injured, it gives you time reassess, evaluate and link back into what it is you want to do. Watching other players playing should give you real heartache and desire to get back on the football pitch.
“And when you do get back, make sure you give everything that you’ve possibly got, for the team and for yourself to improve. It’s a difficult six to eight weeks, plus the close season, without Andy playing, but he’ll return a better person.
“Injured players can’t affect the three-point situation, so I’ve got to deal with the players I’ve got available and come up with the best permutation to win football matches.
“Andy’s been in good form, but it’s important that I select from the group of midfield players that we’ve got, and wide strikers, if you like, where Andy can play as well, to get the best team.
“We want the team to work well together and to be balanced, against any opponent and we’ll start this weekend.”