Star Le Page out until September

GAVIN LE PAGE has confirmed that he will be under the surgeon's knife next month and out until September. The all-action North and island midfielder has been on the sidelines since November with suspected tendon and ligament damage in his right knee.

On Monday, the 24-year-old's surgeon, Ranjan Vhadra, confirmed that he had torn his cruciate ligament.

The result will see him have an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction operation on 10 March.

Le Page has been told that he will not be able to play competitively again until early next season.

'I'm devastated,' said Le Page yesterday.

'The only positive is that I know what it is now and I know what needs to be done and I can get on with the rehabilitation. It's a minimum of six months out.

'I'll be back mid-September so at least it's over the summer and I won't miss the majority of next season, but it's all about the rehabilitation. I've just got to look at the positives.'

Le Page sustained the injury during reigning champions North's 1-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Bels at the end of November.

And he had an adverse reaction to it at the end of last month when he returned to action in North's 2-1 win at Sylvans.

He has not played since and North's coach Mick Le Prevost was full of sympathy for his player following the latest development.

'I feel really sorry for him,' he said.

North have been ravaged with injuries this year, with stars such as Simon Tostevin, AJ Saunders and Alex Le Prevost all spending a prolonged period on the sidelines.

They have lost Kyle Stone, who has gone travelling, and Ollie McKenzie had a lengthy suspension.

Le Prevost was also bemoaning the fact that at Saturday's match with Bels he was missing six junior players who were away with the Guernsey under-18s in the Mick Parry Cup in Dorset.

The chocolate-and-blues lost 1-0.

Too many defeats have now seen their hopes of retaining their title wiped out as they lie in third place and 15 points behind leaders Bels.

'I'm gutted for Gavin, AJ, Tostie and Alex,' said Le Prevost.

'They are all very good

players and it's come in one hit. I've never been in a situation like this in nine years of coaching.

'It's a nightmare. I don't know what I've got from one week to the next. But I suppose that's football.

'Hopefully next season, if we can stay injury-free, you'll see a different North.'

n A SOLITARY late goal from Simon Tostevin gave North all three points in their derby duel with neighbours Vale Rec in the Sure Mobile Priaulx League last night.

'We needed this win big time because we are fighting for a Wheway spot,' said North coach Mick Le Prevost.

But he still faces major selection headaches with his injury-ravaged squad and was only able to name two juniors on the bench for the Northfield clash.

'I don't know from one week to the next what kind of side I have got,' he said.

'On the football side I think we deserved to win, but Vale Rec battled hard.'

Le Prevost's son Alex is expected to return from injury for the match against St Martin's on Saturday week.

But he already knows he is without unavailable juniors Garry Dodd and Miles Pengelley for the Priaulx League match against Rovers on Saturday.