Cheltenham Town manager Keith Downing has revealed that Robins striker Damian Spencer could have knee surgery this week.The striker has been hampered by a niggling knee injury in recent weeks but made a late substitute appearance in the 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

However, Downing revealed Spencer's likely absence against Walsall next weekend could be offset by the return of on-loan midfielder Alex Russell, who has recently been sidelined with a stomach problem.

He told the club's official website: "Damian Spencer may have to have surgery within the next few days. We'll put a reserve team out on Tuesday that will be unrecognisable because I want to keep this group of 16 to 18 players fit and fresh for the next two or three weeks.

"Alex Russell was not fit enough to play having had only half a week's training and we took Alan Wright off as a precaution with 20 minutes to go because we didn't want to aggravate his Achilles injury.

"Hopefully a full week's training next week will bring Alex closer to a place against Walsall."

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