Woods fears for Atkinson

Last updated : 16 July 2010 By Mariners MAD

The 23-year-old will see a specialist on Thursday to see if he needs an operation, which would rule him out of the opening months of the Blue Square Premier season.

If he can avoid an operation he could be available for the opening day of the season at Crawley Town.

"It's very doubtful but if the surgeon looks at him and says he doesn't need the procedure, then great," said the Mariners manager Neil Woods, talking to BBC Radio Humberside.

"Then we can move things on a little bit quicker than we can at the moment."