Gillingham keeper Simon Royce injury worse than thought
Royce damaged his knee and neck in a car accident
Gillingham goalkeeper Simon Royce has been ruled out for at least four weeks following his car accident.
Manager Mark Stimson had hoped the 38-year-old would only miss two weeks but the results of a scan are not good.
He told BBC Radio Kent: "He's got a tear round the cartilage area so it's a minimum of four weeks."
Gillingham have signed Reading's Simon Locke on a month's emergency loan as cover while Alan Julian is expected to play in Royce's absence.
Stimson added: "After that we will have to assess it again. But Alan Julian stepped in last week and he was fantastic and I hope will do the same if he is called upon this week.
"Simon's neck and back are also in a bad way but that will heal up before the knee. Let's see how he goes after the rehab.
"Some of our players are lucky with their age and recover quickly but with Simon when you get to his age it takes longer to recover."
Meanwhile loan striker Febian Brandy could be fit in time for Saturday's home game against Stockport.
Brandy injured his thigh in the game against Leyton Orient earlier this month and was expected to be out for a few weeks.
Stimson said: "I'll have a report from Manchester United to see if this weekend is right for him, if not it will be the following weekend.
"There's a slight chance [for this weekend] but you have to make sure. With a thigh strain if he comes back too early we could miss him for a long time.
"It's down to the player. He will tell them and if he tells them what they want to hear then they will tell us. Certain players can play through certain things and some can't.
"I'm sure Fab will be professional and make the right call. It looked like it would be two or three weeks, maybe four to six, but we got it quite quick and touch wood I expect him to be back this week or next week."
The club are hopeful of getting the game with Stockport on. The pitch was frozen at the Gordon Road side of the ground on Wednesday morning and snow is forecast for Kent for Friday.
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