Eastleigh FC confirm that summer signing Ben Drake has suffered an ACL injury, potentially missing the entire 2026/27 season. The left-back sustained the injury during a pre-season game against Crawley Town on Saturday, July 25. Drake, 21, signed from Championship club Millwall last month having impressed on loan at National League side Braintree Town last season. He made 22 appearances in the fifth tier last term and joined on a free transfer from the Lions, whom he didn't make a senior appearance for. In a statement, the Spitfires said: "Eastleigh Football Club can confirm that Ben Drake has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. "The left back sustained this injury during the second-half of our pre-season game against Crawley Town on Saturday, July 25. "At this point, there is no definitive timescale for his return to action, but it is likely that he will miss the whole of the 2026/27 campaign. "Everyone at the club wishes Ben the best and we will continue to support him through each step of his recovery." Matt Gray's side start their National League campaign on Saturday with a home match against Gateshead. The team currently sits 8th in the National League, with 3 points from 1 game, and a recent form of W.