SWINDON Town may have to do without influential midfielder Yaser Kasim for up to eight weeks after he hobbled off against Gillingham on Saturday, the Adver understands.

The Iraqi international was substituted with just seven minutes of normal time left to play of Saturday’s goalless draw at Priestfield, holding his knee.

Now sources close to the player say that he has suffered a grade two tear in his medial collateral ligament.

The injury, which is a tear and not a full rupture of the ligament, could rule the 24-year-old out of action for between six to eight weeks, depending on his rehabilitation.

With Drissa Traore having missed the last three outings due to personal reasons and Louis Thompson only returning to training this week, following the renewal of his loan from Norwich City, Luke Williams could have midfield selection issues when deciding on how to line up against Colchester United on Saturday.

“We’re expecting Louis to be in full training with the squad at the beginning of next week,” Williams told BBC Wiltshire after Saturday’s game.

“We’re hoping to see him return to action by the end of this month.”

Kasim missed the trip to Shrewsbury Town in December after a recurrence of his foot injury left him on the sidelines.