Surgery Confirmed
Eastleigh FC confirmed on 21 August 2026 that defender Ben Drake, 21, has successfully undergone surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Drake signed from Championship side Millwall the previous month and suffered the injury during a friendly against Crawley Town. The club’s official statement praised the care provided by Nuffield Health and announced that Drake would begin the next stage of his rehabilitation.
Impact on the Season
The ACL injury could rule Drake out for the entire 2026-27 season. He has yet to make a senior appearance for the Lions, having impressed on loan at National League side Braintree Town last season. With the club’s first two league matches already played- a 2-1 victory over Gateshead at home and a 1-0 defeat away to Kidderminster Harriers- the loss of a young defender could affect squad depth as Eastleigh prepares to host Scunthorpe United tomorrow.
Club Support and Next Steps
Eastleigh thanked its partners at Nuffield Health for their support throughout the procedure. The club will continue to provide full support during Drake’s recovery, as stated in the social media post: "Ben will now begin the next stage of his rehabilitation, with the club continuing to provide him with our full support throughout his recovery."
Current Season Context
Eastleigh’s early season form includes a win over Gateshead and a loss to Kidderminster. The upcoming match against Scunthorpe United will be a key test as the club seeks to build momentum while coping with the absence of a promising defender.
