Horsham centre-back Eddie French is out for the season after sustaining an horrific triple injury.

French will undergo surgery after breaking his right leg, dislocating an ankle and damaging ligaments in Wednesday’s 2-1 win against Staines at the A2B Stadium. Hornets manager John Maggs said: “Eddie will definitely miss the rest of the season. Whether it is career-threatening, we will have to wait and see after the operation. The surgeons intend to put a couple of plates in his leg.

“It’s a massive loss for us because Eddie and skipper Sam Page had formed a superb pairing in the centre of defence in the opening two matches.

“I feel for Eddie. He was my first signing when I got him from Hassocks and, although he wasn’t in the side much last season, always told me he’d get the shirt back.

“There was no intent to injure him. He just came down in a heap. It looked terrible.”

French will be replaced by Andy Howard against Heybridge Swifts at their temporary Worthing home tomorrow.