AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley is hopeful defender Will Nightingale will only be out for a couple of weeks after sustaining a groin injury in the 2-1 victory over Notts County on Saturday.

The English defender, 20, was injured blocking a cross in the first half and, despite attempting to play on, was substituted for Karleigh Osborne after half an hour.

The youngster is no stranger to injuries, having gone through two years of injury hell before graduating from the academy at the Cherry Red Records stadium.

PICTURE GALLERY: AFC Wimbledon get through the wall of a "classic away performance"... eventually

Ardley praised the defender's attitude and is hopeful he will not be out for too long.

He said: “Obviously Will knows when he’s hurt. The main worry is that he thinks something is wrong, he knows the feeling.

“He’s a brave lad and he’ll carry on running even with an injury so the first thought is that it’s something serious, but we have a brilliant medical team and well assess him this week when we’d have the scan and the results."

He added: “I would have thought he’d be out for a few weeks, but I’ll have my fingers crossed it’s just that and nothing more.”

Osborne will likely fill the void left by Nightingale when they go to Luton Town on Saturday.