Swindon Town defender Harrison Minturn will miss the remainder of the season due to a hip injury.

The 20-year-old has become a core part of the squad this season, making 20 appearances including 14 starts, with injuries to other players seeing him cement himself as a regular starter under Michael Flynn.

The academy graduate fell out of favour under Gavin Gunning but did start against Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers, before being substituted at half time.

After he was not included in the squad to face Harrogate Town on Saturday, Gunning confirmed after full time that he had picked up an injury that would keep him out for the rest of the season.

Minturn becomes the second young defender to see their season ended prematurely in a matter of days, with January signing Pharrell Johnson also picking up a season-ending injury.

Gunning said: “Harrison is out for the season now, so obviously we have got two young defenders out for the season.

“It is his hip and quad area, he has pulled a muscle there, so that is unfortunate for him.

“That is frustrating because you would like to blood them more going towards next season and get minutes into the two lads.

“They are young guys, and you want to see if they can actually do it on a consistent basis at League Two level.

“That is a frustration, but it is football as well and injuries are a part of it. They have to come back stronger from their injuries.”

Speaking ahead of the Harrogate game, Gunning discussed his choice to play Minturn at right-back in the previous two games and how he felt that experience would help him to develop as a player.

He said: “I think with how he is built that I think that being a solid right-back suits him at the minute.

“He is still wet behind the ears as a centre half, he does some very, very good bits but then he does some inexperienced bits.

“I always think that as a centre half you have to learn your trade as a full back usually, not many young kids come in at centre half, they usually play full back and learn the game a bit more.

“There is more space for you to get coverage and you can actually learn to defend as a full back, with one-v-one duels and things like that.”