JORDAN Lyden will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury - but Swindon Town boss Richie Wellens expects the midfielder to pen a new County Ground contract.

The 24-year-old was absent from the matchday squad in Town’s 2-0 Tuesday night win over Scunthorpe United.

And after the match, Wellens revealed an injury in training has ended Lyden’s campaign.

He said: “Jordan will be out for the season, he’s done his ankle on the astroturf outside.

“We’re obviously not happy about that, but he’ll have an operation, I think it’s Wednesday or Thursday. That will be his season done.”

Following his release from Premier League Aston Villa last season, Lyden penned a one-year deal at the County Ground following a summer trial.

Thus far this term the Australian has made 24 appearances and, regardless of his injury, Swindon chief Wellens has already made clear he wants Lyden to remain.

“I’m not sure that he’s triggered enough games to get an extra year, but we were in dialogue with his agent.

“As soon as he picked up the injury his agent was panicking; ‘is the deal still on?’.

“But I’m a man of my word and there’s no way I would go against that.

“So Jordan Lyden will sign a new contract, it’s just a case now of agreeing it and sorting it out.”

Tuesday night’s line-up also saw full-back Rob Hunt miss out, the only change to Town’s starting XI.

That forced a tweak that saw Zeki Fryers move out to left-back, though Wellens is hopeful Hunt will be back on the training pitch before the week is up.

He added: “Hunty has tweaked his hamstring, so we hope he’ll be training maybe Friday.

“It meant that Tom Broadbent came in and he’ll be happy he kept a clean sheet.”

Anthony Grant (hamstring) was also replaced by Matty Palmer late on.