GAVIN Williams could miss the first six weeks of the new season with ankle ligament damage.The Blues midfielder was injured in Ipswich Town's 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Portman Road yesterday and the club today face an anxious wait for scan results to find out the extent of the damage.

By Derek Davis

GAVIN Williams could miss the first six weeks of the new season with ankle ligament damage.

The Blues midfielder was injured in Ipswich Town's 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Portman Road yesterday and the club today face an anxious wait for scan results to find out the extent of the damage.

Williams was last night taken to Ipswich Hospital for an initial scan, but the ankle was severely swollen and will need an MRI scan later this week to determine the full extent of the injury. Ipswich manager Jim Magilton last night said: “Gavin turned his ankle but how severe it is we don't know until after the scan. He was in a lot of pain but we hope it is not as bad as we all fear.

Williams has battled to get back into action after struggling for much of the season with a groin problem that needed two operations to cure.

The new injury to Williams overshadowed a hero's return for Spanish striker Pablo Counago, whose two first-half goals gave Town victory in sweltering heat.

Magilton said: “The first game of the league season is usually played in conditions like that so this replicated those conditions.

“Our fitness was good and that will go a long way to getting us to where we want to be for Saturday. Pablo took his goals well and our shape was good so I was delighted overall.

“We limited them to a few chances and we have worked extremely hard on that. There have been times when I have not been pleased with them defensively but I was pleased with everyone from the front two to the back.”

Jon Walters was another who left the game early after complaining of feeling unwell.