Town boss Kieran McKenna has revealed striker George Hirst will undergo surgery on a ruptured hamstring this week and will miss most of the rest of the season.

Hirst limped off in the first half of the 1-1 draw with his former club Leicester City on Boxing Day.

“George is seeing a surgeon this week for a repair to a rupture of his hamstring, so it will be certainly the very, very back end of the season before he will be eligible,” McKenna said.

Quizzed on whether that would increase the urgency when it comes to bringing someone in in January, he said: “Not really, it doesn’t increase the urgency because he was always going to be right at the very end of the season.

“We wanted to add and we need to add quality to the squad to keep improving the squad in every window. We want to keep adding goals and goal threats in their different guises, centre-forward and other type of forward players as well. That’s one priority.

“We were going to look to do that without George’s injury and then when the striker who has been playing all the games is ruled out for the large majority of the season, that increases the importance.

“But it’s not about urgency, it’s about getting in the right player or players, who can help us for the rest of the season and maybe beyond.”

Hirst, 24, has been a key man in the Town side, scoring six times this season, since signing from the Foxes in the summer following a successful loan at the end of last season.

Photo: Matchday Images

BarbelBoy added 18:57 - Jan 1 Anyone else notice that both Johnson Clarke-Harris and Jay Stansfield were left out of their respective match day squads today ? Maybe they were injured ? - or maybe they are on the move.
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cressi added 18:58 - Jan 1 When people comment about amount of games our great players real legends played 70 plus games including playing in Europe and for their country. Often pitches had more sand than Clacton. Today play on a bowling green in the second tier we really need to get a grip
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DerryfromBury added 19:10 - Jan 1 Not unexpected, but nevertheless, not what we wanted to hear. Lets hope it doesn't take to long to get additions in.
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SickParrot added 19:15 - Jan 1 Our luck has definitely run out.
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Robert_Garrett added 19:28 - Jan 1 Get better sooner . missing you Already!
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MickMillsTash added 20:09 - Jan 1 Stansfield played for Birmingham today and was booked. To get someone in at the start of this window will cost more but we have no choice than to click on the BUY NOW price
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blues1 added 20:34 - Jan 1 Barbelboy. Stansfield played for birmingham today.
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oldbri added 20:56 - Jan 1 Get well soon, George. We will miss you. Get back as soon as you can.
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Gforce added 21:33 - Jan 1 Hirsty to score the winner at Wembley. We can dream !!
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Powrigan added 21:42 - Jan 1 Can’t rely on him going forward, that sort of injury will reoccur on a regular basis.
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Powrigan added 21:42 - Jan 1 Can’t rely on him going forward, that sort of injury will reoccur on a regular basis.
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Europablue added 21:49 - Jan 1 Ipswichbusiness I'm sure that Palace want KM, but there is no way that he would go there. Brighton is a concern because he might actually go there because they are a very stable club that play football the right way and give their manager resources. 4 million is such a tiny amount of compensation. I've always felt that managers should be valued way more. If the best players are worth over 100 million, why not the best managers? Maybe it has something to do with image rights. Anyway, we have to be comfortable with the idea of other clubs being interested in KM, it is the price of success. It is a task for MA and the ownership to be competitive with providing the best environment for KM to thrive. Of course, KM could win the league with Man City, but I'm not convinced that he (or anybody) could win it with Man Utd. the way that that club is run. Wouldn't it be a real test of his quality to get us into the Premier League and be competitive? He has a long career ahead of him. Three more years with us to see where he can take us seems like a sensible thing to do especially with a young family needing stability.

2

algarvefan added 22:17 - Jan 1 Quite simply 'Bu**er'!!! George we wish you a speedy recovery, so sorry this happened for you, chin up mate!!
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Linkboy13 added 08:38 - Jan 2 Always a huge worry when a player has to have surgery. You are spot on Powigan hamstring injuries never seem to go away completely. A great shame as he was really enjoying his football with us. Looks like another loan signing and if the player impresses a signing in the summer.
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 09:43 - Jan 2 Bad news. We need two Championship quality forwards ASAP.
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oldelsworthyfan added 11:16 - Jan 2 Many coming to realise at last that George Hirst is our most under rated player (marked at an average of only 6.58). He's strong and a handful for any defender trying to mark him, and greats space for our several goal scorers . I wish you a speedy recovery George, we shall miss you.
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tractorboybig added 12:26 - Jan 2 the man who made us tick......is he replaceable in our budget?
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dubblue added 13:51 - Jan 2 A big loss wishing GH a speedy recovery from his surgery. Will look with interest at our January dealings!!
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littlestoneblue added 18:28 - Jan 2 Don't worry Jay Stansfield will be with us shortly we are talking with Fulham about them recalling him from Brum and joining a quality Ipswich Team and he will blend in very well. In the meantime get well soon George the surgeons can work wonders on Ham string injuries
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