Saints defender to miss start of new season after surgery

Steven Anderson will miss around six weeks of the new season.

The centre-back was elbowed in the face during the second leg of Saints’ Europa League clash with Alashkert and manager Tommy Wright feared the worst at that point.

However, there was positive news when an examination suggested there hadn’t been a break.

Anderson hasn’t recovered as was hoped, and a second asssement has now confirmed he will indeed need an operation.

Manager Tommy Wright reported: “Ando has continued to experience symptoms and so we sent him for a follow-up scan and it has now revealed a fractured eye socket which wasn’t initially detected.

“It’s going to require an operation which will take place this Friday and will require a six week recovery so we are looking at a seven week absence from now.”