YORK City utility man Clovis Kamdjo is facing nine months on the sidelines after hospital scans confirmed he has suffered serious cruciate ligament damage.

Kamdjo, 25, was stretchered off after 87 minutes of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Eastleigh having impressed on the right side of the visitors’ three-man defence.

He has previously played in midfield for the Minstermen, but City boss Gary Mills had identified him as a possible key man at the back and admitted his loss is a blow.

Mills said: “He has done his cruciate and there’s other damage to his knee, so he’s looking at being out for nine months to a year. It’s the worst news he and we could have received.

“I was just getting into Clovis and he was starting to look like the type of player I am after at the back. He had done well in the last two games and I definitely saw him as a defender because he’s better with the game in front of him in terms of reading things and competing well.

“He was also getting better and more comfortable on the ball. It’s not a good time for it to happen and I’m gutted for him.

“I broke my leg as a player and was out for a year, but this type of injury is worse. We will give him the best treatment we can though and, hopefully, he can come back and carry on where he left off.”

With Kamdjo’s injury in mind, Mills ran the rule over two unidentified trialists during a 2-0 reserve win at Rotherham today, but will not be pursuing any interest in either.

One had to be substituted after an aerial clash just past the half-hour mark and Mills explained: “It was just a case of having the opportunity to look at people who have been thrown at us and then you can decide where to go from there.

“It was bit unfortunate for the lad who came off because we couldn’t really decide what we thought of him. It was a definite no for the other one and I don’t think either of them will goers.”

Kaine Felix and Scott Fenwick were the marksmen in South Yorkshire with the former and fellow attacker Daniel Nti catching the eye of Mills, who added: “Kaine worked hard up top and Daniel Nti was lively.

“He made things happen again and, when we put him down the middle with Kaine, we did better and he did better. He created both goals and got down the sides well.”