Deegan Out For The Season
Last updated : 03 November 2010 By Covsupport News Service/RD
Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd has told the club and fans that his feisty Irish midfielder Gary Deegan will be out of contention for the rest of the season.
Deegan damaged his ankle ligaments in the game at Reading and so missed the four games of last season.
An operation to repair the damage was carried out during the summer, but the 23 year 9 old Deegan started to train a little too early and suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle, which meant he had to have a pin inserted to help heal the injury.
It has now emerged that the pin has come loose necessitating another operation which, in turn means he will now miss the rest of the season.
Boothroyd confirmed to the CT: "We have had a bit of bad news with Gary who, unfortunately, has been told he needs another operation on his ankle which is going to put him out for the rest of the season really. It is a big blow for him and for us because I was looking forward to having him back this year, so it is disappointing."
"Everything that he had has healed but he has suffered a freak occurrence where the pin that they put in his bone to deal with the stress fracture has come loose somehow. It is quite complicated but the long and short of it is that he is going to need another operation
"I have not had the chance to speak to him yet but I will have a chat with him in the next couple of days but it is a big disappointment for him because he has worked really hard to get back from the injury, but he has to get on with it and get back to where he was last year, which was doing really well.
"Injuries like this can make you stronger in the end. He has got to crack on with it and it is part and parcel of the game, unfortunately."
Deegan has made 17 appearances for Coventry City since he joined from Irish outfit Bohemians last January and has scored twice. He has the ability ro excite the crowd when he has the ball and is not afraid to tackle. He arrived at The Ricoh with the nickname of 'Pitbull' because of his combative and competitive nature.
Deegan's absence, while not vital, will leave Boothroyd with one less option for the remainder of the season. He explained, "It would have been nice to have him as an option this season."
"We have got good central midfield players with Lee Carsley, Sammy Clingan and Michael Doyle when called upon. Aron Gunnarsson can play in there and young Connor Thomas is coming through as well, but Gary is a little bit different to the other boys and I just hope that he comes back as soon as possible and then we can think about him for next year."
Boothroyd also revealed that another of his long term absentees, Isaac Osbourne is still a long way from making a return to the team. Osbourne has a knee injury which is slow to heal and Boothroyd confirmed, "Isaac is going to be a little longer yet."
