Sammie Szmodics’ latest injury heartbreak, at a soggy Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, summed up Colchester United’s dreadful run of injury setbacks this season.
Szmodics broke his leg following an innocuous-looking challenge on Crewe striker Chris Dagnall, who went on to score both goals in a 2-0 home win.
The U’s 21-year-old midfielder was stretched off to the dressing room, and then on to hospital, where X-rays revealed that he had broken his leg.
It was cruel luck on Szmodics, who had undergone two ankle operations in the last 12 months, and had only just returned from his latest ankle surgery.
Furthermore, it was yet more dreadful misfortune to strike the play-off chasing U’s, who have endured an unprecedented number of long-term injuries.
Here is a break-down on the chief casualties of 2016-17:
MATT BRIGGS
Injury: hip/back
Months out: 6
League games missed: 27
Return: first game was 1-1 draw at Blackpool on Feb 4, 2017
League games played this season (to date): 11
LUKE PROSSER
Injury: knee
Months out: 6
League games missed: 32
Last game: 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield on Nov 5, 2016
Return: out for the season
League games played this season: 14
FRANKIE KENT
Injury: ruptured ankle ligaments (early season knee)
Months out: 3 & 3, so 6 in total
League games missed: 14 & 17
Last game: 2-1 win over Barnet on Feb 11, 2017
Return: out for the season
League games played this season: 13
TOM EASTMAN
Injury: ankle ligaments
Months out: 2 (nearly)
League games missed: 10
Last game: 1-1 draw at Blackpool on Feb 4, 2017
Return: before end of the season
League games played this season: 27
DOUG LOFT
Injury: Achilles tendon
Months out: 8
League games missed: 43 (likely)
Last game: 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth on Aug 20, 2016
Return: not expected this season
League games played this season: 3
SAMMIE SZMODICS
Injury: broken leg, earlier ankle surgery
Months out: 4 (in total)
League games missed: 27
Last game: 2-0 defeat at Crewe on Mar 18, 2017
Return: out for the season
League games played this season: 19
DENNY JOHNSTONE
Injury: knee
Months out: 3
League games missed: 15
Last game: 2-1 defeat at Accrington on Feb 18, 2017
Return: out for the season
League games played this season: 28
CRAIG SLATER
Injury: double hernia
Months out: nearly 3
League games missed: 15
Last game: 2-1 defeat at Accrington on Feb 18, 2017
Return: out for the season
League games played this season: 28
KURTIS GUTHRIE
Injury: ankle
Months out: 2
League games missed: 13
Last game: 2-1 win over Hartlepool. Feb 25
Return: out for the season
League games played this season: 33
OWEN GARVAN
Injury: knee
Months out: 3
League games missed: 17 (at start of season, & the last 2)
Last game: 4-0 defeat to Portsmouth on Mar 11, 2017
Return: hopefully soon
League games played this season: 18
LEWIS KINSELLA
Injury: ankle
Months out: 6
League games missed: 21 (until return to squad)
Last game: 0-0 draw against Newport, Oct 8, 2017
Return: to the bench at Grimsby on Feb 28, 2017 (not played yet)
League games played this season: 12
ALSO
Chris Porter: missed nearly 2 months & 6 league games (before Christmas) with hamstring injury.
Brennan Dickenson: missed 6 weeks & 6 league games in autumn with hamstring injury
Tom Lapslie: missed 7 weeks & 8 league games with ankle injury, from early September
Lloyd Doyley: played just 3 league games
Dean Brill, Tommy O’Sullivan & Jermaine Grandison all yet to make debuts due to injuries
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