Defender Ben Drake, who recently joined Eastleigh from Millwall, will be out for the remainder of the 2026-27 season following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The young player, just 21 years old, was sidelined after the injury occurred during a pre-season match against Crawley Town last week.
Drake had only signed with the Spitfires in late July, bringing experience from his time at Braintree Town where he made 22 appearances in the National League last season. However, his promising start to the new campaign has been cut short by the severe injury.
A club statement released on Monday confirmed that there is no definitive timescale for Drake's return but indicated a long recovery period is expected. The injury will not only affect Drake personally but also Eastleigh’s defensive lineup and their preparations for the upcoming season.
