Guernsey midfielder Matt Loaring has thanked supporters for messages following the news that he will miss a significant chunk of the remainder of the season.

The Green Lions are unfortunately going to be without one of their key and most experienced players with the news that Loaring requires surgery on a nasty facial injury. The club's record appearance holder had to come off in the second half of the Green Lions' draw with Badshot Lea on Sunday after an accidental clash of heads with an opposition player. It was later confirmed that Matt had fractured his cheekbone and eye socket.

He will be heading off to Southampton for surgery on the injury in the near future.

The 111-goal man, also GFC's top scorer so far this season with nine, said it was really nice to see all the support he has received.

"I've had so many messages from friends and people I have played with in the past and I've seen the comments on the club's social media. It's good to hear from everyone - a lot of good wishes from people, which has been touching to know there are a lot of people thinking of me.

"Obviously gutted to miss out on a lot of games. There is never a good time for this sort of thing to happen but it felt like I was continuing on from last season performance-wise.

"I am hoping to play a part in a few games towards the end of the season. I will have to wait and see what the surgeon says. There could be a chance I could come back March or April time, best case scenario. I'm just focussed on being able to get back by the end of the season so I have a chance to feature in the Muratti. We'll have to see.

"I knew when it happened I had broken something, but I didn't lose consciousness and luckily there was no impairment to my vision and I wasn't concussed."

"I'm likely to have to wear a mask for a bit when I come back, which will be an interesting experience!"

Matt will still be a regular face at Footes Lane between now and the end of the season.

"I'll be down to watch every game, watching with my daughter. I'll hopefully make an appearance in the dressing room here and there, but mainly cheering the team on from the sidelines and enjoying the game from a spectator point of view. I'm sure it will make me want to come back even more."

GFC coach Steve Sharman told the Guernsey Press: "We really feel sorry for Matty. It was a really sad moment for a player who has given so much for GFC. He's been such a driving force for us this season as a senior player, but the most important thing is his health - he has a young family, he has his work commitments - there are more important things than football.

"Obviously he will be a huge loss for us, both on and off the pitch because he is a wise individual and a player the youngsters in the group look up to. The squad will get around him and support him in whatever way we can."

Sharman also confirmed that Josh Addison will miss a few games with an ankle injury that he sustained in the first half on Sunday. With no goalkeeper on the bench, he bravely carried on for the full 90 minutes but it was clear that he was struggling.

Sharman said to the Guernsey Press: "How Josh stayed on the pitch for the second half, I don't know. Five-hundred-and-whatever games we've had, I think we've had it twice where we've had to put an outfield player in goal so it's going to be the law of averages. It's a risk that you take, but I'd take those odds. Sebby [Sheppard] did fantastically [on his debut against Southall] but we were at home against the bottom team and we can bring on five subs. If you could only bring on three I think we would have had a goalkeeper probably, but because you want to [have more options to] go and win the game, that was the decision. Hindsight is a great thing. Josh is going to be out for a few games now."