Gary Breen, who has not played since being injured in the final pre-season friendly against Ebbsfleet United on August 1, looks set to be sidelined for another month.
This shock news came after Breen and physiotherapist Mark Stein saw consultant Panos Thomas to discuss a scan the player underwent early this week.
The medical diagnosis was "severe bone marrow oedema of the fibula," which means at least two weeks rest for the 35-year-old former Republic of Ireland World Cup central defender.
The news was a particular blow as assistant manager Breen had trained with the squad up to yesterday and there were hopes that he would return to the squad against top-of-the-table Notts County at Underhill on Saturday. Breen collected the injury when caught by Ismail Yakubu's knee.
Hendon had been hoping for a fully fit squad in preparation for three tough matches in six days ... Notts tomorrow, Millwall on Tuesday and Northampton Town away next Friday. The manager plans to watch Millwall, the Bees' 1st Round opponents in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, for the second time this week in their home League 1 match against Brighton & Hove Albion at the New Den this evening.
Luckily for Hendon Australian Daniel Leach, who partnered Yakubu in the opening games before last weekend's visit to Torquay United, has recovered from a dead leg. Clovis Kamdjo, the Cameroon-born former Reading youth team captain, proved an excellent deputy on his League debut at Torquay.
Joe Devera, who missed the Torquay match with an ankle injury collected in training the day before, is also back in contention. And Kenny Gillet, who missed the Torquay match with a hamstring injury, will be assessed during Friday's final training session. Sierra Leone international Ahmed Deen proved an able deputy for the Frenchman in the 1-0 win at Plainmoor.
Top scorer John O'Flynn, an unused substitute at Torquay last Saturday, has trained satisfactorily this week.
Note: the dictionary definition of 'oedema' is an "abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissue".
Dennis Signy
