Scunthorpe United manager Andy Butler has confirmed that the National League side have suffered a key injury setback to one of their summer recruits.
The Iron picked up their first league victory of the campaign, ending their winless streak against Solihull Moors as goals from Jacob Butterfield, James Gale and Alfie Beestin saw the club climb to 16th in the standings.
However, they had to do so without one of their key summer signings and will continue to do so for an extended period of time.
Scunthorpe rocked by injury setback
Prior to Friday’s victory over Solihull Moors, Scunthorpe had conceded five times in their opening three league games – picking up just a single point and looked a shadow of the side that performed so successfully during the previous season, which saw them finish in the play-off places.
One key addition that the club made this summer was the brotherly reunion, signing departing York City captain Callum Howe on a free transfer, to add experience and leadership to the Iron’s defensive system moving into the current campaign.
Unfortunately for Scunthorpe fans, Howe will spend the next few months on the sidelines, following confirmation from Butler himself that the defender has sustained a big setback, which led to him being substituted just 18 minutes into their defeat against Eastleigh.
Speaking to BBC Humberside Sport, Butler confirmed Howe’s injury stating…
“Cal (Howe) it depends, it looks like a medial by the way he’s landed. He seems to have landed with his leg tweaking inwards so it’s probably medial.
“That could be anywhere between eight to 16 weeks so it could be a long one.”
Following his summer arrival, Howe had started all three of Scunthorpe’s opening league matches and his stint on the sidelines isn’t an ideal situation for the club to be in.
How can the Iron adapt in Howe’s absence?
Against Solihull Moors on Friday, Scunthorpe recalled experienced defender Ross Barrows to the right-back position, whilst left-back Branden Horton shifted across to replace Howe and Tyler Denton came in on the left.
The addition of Denton and Barrows added proven National League pedigree to their back-line, which they would have missed with Howe’s injury.
However, Scunthorpe’s next four league encounters make for a tough reading. The club face Carlisle United, Harrogate Town, Boreham Wood and league leaders Sutton United, who will each pose serious threats and will create chances – thus putting their defence under further pressure.
This could create an opportunity for the club to go into the transfer market and bring in a loan option to facilitate the gap that the injury has left.
Similarly, the Iron have experienced defensive midfielder Levi Sutton training with the club at the moment, which (if funds allow), could create an opening where he comes in as a makeshift centre-back, offering experience and protection in Howe’s absence.
The 29-year-old is without a club following his summer departure from Harrogate Town and began his career with the Iron, before leaving them for Bradford City in 2020.
Though Butler has already raised concerns that current funds wouldn’t allow for a transfer, the injury to Howe (if on the longer side of the absence window) could play a key role in trying to facilitate a move – even on a temporary/short-term basis.
