FRANKIE Artus is targeting a return to action within four weeks after suffering a crack to his fibula in Cheltenham Town's 3-1 defeat at Barnet.

Artus gave the Robins a dream start with a perfectly struck free-kick from 25 yards that nestled in the top left corner after only 65 seconds.

It was his first touch of the match, but he hobbled off after 33 minutes after receiving a kick to his lower leg and an X-ray has shown a crack in the non-weight-bearing calf bone.

Artus said the challenge that inflicted his injury was not malicious.

"I could see that their lad was going to turn and I managed to nick the ball away, but he kicked me," he said.

"It wasn't aggressive and there was no intent. I am not even sure if he knew he'd caught me.

"It felt like a dead leg at first and I tried to run it off, but I couldn't sprint."

Cheltenham's senior sports therapist Ian Weston says Artus will be out for up to six weeks, but the left-footer wants a quick recovery so he can battle to reclaim a place in the most competitive area of Cheltenham's squad – midfield.

"It's not a serious injury and I have been told four to six weeks, but I want to get back after four," he said.

"I can't walk properly and I have to lay off it for now because I could make it worse."

Artus will be able to go into the swimming pool and on the bike soon to maintain his fitness levels without putting any weight through the bone.

"I won't rush back too soon, but if it is feeling all right and an X-ray after four weeks gives me the all-clear, hopefully it won't be long before I am back," he said.

Artus' strike at Underhill is an early contender for goal of the season, but he does not regard it as good as his long-range stunner at Walsall in the second appearance of his first loan spell with the Robins in March 2009.

"That goal was better, but it's always nice to score from distance," Artus said.

"I hit the one at Barnet sweetly.

"Michael Pook told me it was the right sort of range for me and it was nice to see it go in.

"Unfortunately, we didn't push on after the goal and we weren't ourselves.

"We have had ups and downs already, but I am sure we can have more ups this season."