Ipswich Town have been dealt a major blow with the news veteran striker Jon Walters has been ruled out for six months with an achilles injury.
The striker pulled up just seven minutes after coming on against Bolton on Saturday, having been nursing an achilles problem in the lead-up to the game.
Manager Paul Hurst said after the game that it appeared Walters had suffered a calf problem, but the club have now confirmed the 35-year-old has a partially ruptured achilles tendon.
He does not require surgery but will undergo his rehab at parent club Burnley, with his loan due to expire in January.
MORE: ‘I need to try and make my mark in the Championship’ - Rowe wants to kickstart Ipswich careerIt’s likely he’s played his final game for Ipswich, following his return for a second spell at the end of the August loan window.
“I’m obviously gutted with the news,” Walters said.
“That’s football though. That’s life I suppose as well and while I’m really disappointed, there are a lot of people worse off than me.
“I’ll work hard and get back to fitness as soon as I can. I’ve enjoyed being back here and I want to wish the club all the best for the rest of the season.”
Speaking after Saturday’s game, Hurst said: “Clearly it was the wrong decision to involve him, and I’m the one who makes that decision I’ll be the first to say.
MORE: ‘Clearly it was the wrong decision to involve him’ - Hurst not sure how long Walters will be sidelined“He trained yesterday, said he felt fine and we said we’d look again in the morning. He said he was fine and I have to say he’s an experienced pro who was desperate to be involved and if he wasn’t ok to go he wouldn’t have put himself up for selection.
“Was it a calculated risk? Genuinely the information we were getting said it wouldn’t make anything any worse. I think it’s his calf rather than the Achilles but, at the same time you have to say maybe his other muscles are working harder to compensate for that.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here