Midfielder Jimmy Ryan has been ruled out of action for a month after being diagnosed with a medial ligament injury.

The talented 23-year-old suffered the knee problem making a tackle during the closing stages of Scunthorpe United's 2-2 draw with Walsall on Saturday - less than 60 seconds after netting an injury-time equaliser at the Banks's Stadium.

Ryan was hobbling badly after the game and his worst fears were confirmed by manager Alan Knill on Tuesday lunchtime when he revealed the former Accrington Stanley man is unlikely to be available again until the middle of October.

"Things just aren't happening for us at the moment," groaned the United manager.

"It was a great tackle, but it's just one of those things.

"I left him out of the team at Walsall because I felt at Rochdale last week he didn't have the energy he usually had. He was fine with that.

"When we spoke to him, he wasn't too happy with his form. He thinks he can do better, which is good.

"The way we're playing him and where we're playing him is a little bit alien to him, but the problem for us is that because he's such a good footballer, you can put him anywhere and he'll comfortably get on with it.

"I was delighted for him when the ball went in the back of the goal on Saturday, but then incredibly disappointed with the injury.

"He was even more disappointed because he'd come on, done well and made an impact. He's a top kid that brings a lot to us."

Knill was joined on the training ground by just 12 first-team players this morning, with as many as nine players all struggling with knocks ahead of Saturday's game with Yeovil Town.

Included in that list is striker Matt Godden, who has learned he will not play again until 2012.

The rookie front man, who is still yet to really make an impact on the Iron's first team, went for a scan on a hip problem last week and the news was not good.

"He's got a hip problem and a hernia," said Knill.

"The hip problem just happened on the pitch when he fell over before the Newcastle game.

"He hasn't been the same since so we got him scanned and found out he's got a hernia as well."