FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas freshman guard Nate Ra kestraw underwent surgery Thursday to repair a fractured small finger on his right hand and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.

Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey said the injury doesn’t mean Rakestraw will redshirt and that the plan is still for him to play this season.

“We need Nate to continue to improve and see if he can’t help our basketball team,” Pelphrey said. “He’s got a skill. Not many guys on our team can shoot the ball like that. He’s got the ability to change the scoreboard with a couple of shots.”

Rakestraw, who is righthanded, shot 41. 3 percent on three-point attempts last season as a senior at Springdale Har-Ber High School and averaged 19. 4 points.

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“[Rakestraw’s injury ] hurts us because he was getting better,” Pelphrey said. “He was part of our limited guard depth already, so that’s a big blow to us.”

Trainer Dave England said Rakestraw’s surgery included having some pins inserted into his fractured finger.

Rakestraw was injured during Tuesday’s practice.

“I think he dove into a pile of guys,” Pelphrey said.

The team was off Wednesday before returning to practice Thursday.

“Dave is going to do a good job [helping Rakestraw recover ], and we’re going to get him back,” Pelphrey said. “It’s going to take some time. He’s going to miss some games, but we need him to get back and be a part of what’s going to happen here this season. It’s a long year.”

Based on the prognosis Rakestraw will be sidelined six to eight weeks, he could be ready to play again in late November or mid-December.

Arkansas’ regular-season opener is Nov. 9 against Wofford. The Razorbacks play nine games prior to a Dec. 15 trip to Oklahoma.

Rakestraw had been on campus since last summer, going through off-season conditioning and taking part in all 10 practices and two exhibition games for the Razorbacks’ trip to Cancun, Mexico, for Labor Day weekend. He went through six preseason practices the past week before being injured.

Pelphrey recalled that as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky, he missed 13 weeks because of a stress fracture in his foot.

“I know what Nate’s going through,” Pelphrey said. “I’m sure it’s a little deflating to him, because he’s put in a lot of hard work in a short period of time. But this is life, and his attitude was very, very good [going into surgery ].

“ I think Nate’s going to be a fast healer.”