Ebbsfleet's Dean Rance needs surgery on his injured ankle and won't play again this season.

The midfielder twisted his ankle playing against Braintree in the FA Trophy on February 3 and he was sidelined for most of that month before coming off the bench against Hemel Hempstead on February 28.

Rance started the Fleet's next three games but hasn't played since March and wasn't even on the bench for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood at Stonebridge Road.

Ebbsfleet boss Jamie Day said: "Rancey had an injection in his ankle and we were hoping to get him through the rest of the season and then have the operation in the summer - but the injection's worn off.

"If he'd been starting regularly, he might have got himself through it, but he's finished for the season now.

"We felt there was no point pushing it and we've got Johnno (Matt Johnson) on the bench as cover in that position."

Former Gills youngster Rance, who was brought to Ebbsfleet by Steve Brown in 2013, signed a two-year contract extension at Stonebridge Road last summer.