ACCRINGTON Stanley fear that a visit to a specialist will confirm a lengthy spell on the sidelines for Robbie Williams after the defender underwent a knee operation this week.

The 29-year-old twisted his knee in Stanley’s FA Cup replay at Tranmere and will find out the length of his absence next week after going under the knife on Wednesday.

Fellow defender Peter Cavanagh will have a scan next week to determine the extent of his ongoing Achilles problem, but winger Bobby Grant is on the way back and may figure for the reserves on December 1 following a long-term knee problem.