Former Hereford United midfielder Harry Pell will miss most of the season after rupturing his ACL.
The injury, which will require surgery, was picked up as his new club Cheltenham Town beat Northampton Town 2-0 in a pre-season friendly.
Having rejoined the Robins from AFC Wimbledon over the summer, 32-year-old Pell will still become club captain despite the injury.
Robins manager Michael Flynn has this morning confirmed that midfielder Harry Pell is likely to miss the majority of the 2024/25 season through injury.
Manager of the League Two outfit Michael Flynn said: "The bad news regarding Harry Pell is that he will likely miss the season and he will undergo surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
"It's awful news for us, he'll be a massive miss both on and off the pitch and for something so innocuous, I really feel for him.
"He's given everything this pre-season, now we need to make sure we are there for him and give him all the support he needs."
Flynn also confirmed that Pell will be club captain this season and will still have a huge part to play.
"I haven't decided on a captain yet but with his affiliation to the club, Harry will be the club captain.
"In terms of off the pitch and making sure he's a figure head for the younger boys.
"He deserves that. I was going to do it anyway, so hopefully that will cheer him up a bit because he does need it."
Manager of the League Two outfit Michael Flynn said: "The bad news regarding Harry Pell is that he will likely miss the season and he will undergo surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
"It's awful news for us, he'll be a massive miss both on and off the pitch and for something so innocuous, I really feel for him.
"He's given everything this pre-season, now we need to make sure we are there for him and give him all the support he needs."
Flynn also confirmed that Pell will be club captain this season and will still have a huge part to play.
"I haven't decided on a captain yet but with his affiliation to the club, Harry will be the club captain.
"In terms of off the pitch and making sure he's a figure head for the younger boys.
"He deserves that. I was going to do it anyway, so hopefully that will cheer him up a bit because he does need it."
Pell made 60 appearances for the Bulls during two spells from 2011 to 2013 and has also played for Accrington Stanley and Colchester United in the 11 years since leaving Edgar Street.
Pell's penalty in a 3-2 win against Torquay United on the last day of the 2011/12 season wasn't enough to save the Bulls from relegation back to the Conference, but he did help his side to an FA Cup win over Graham Turner's Shrewsbury Town later that year.
In January 2013, Pell signed for League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £30,000.
In January 2013, Pell signed for League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £30,000.