Blues forward Sammie Szmodics has described the knee injury on which he has had surgery as “minor” and has hit out at “keyboard warriors” who have targeted him and his family with “hate messages” over the last few weeks following his latest withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad.

Szmodics revealed earlier today that he had gone under the surgeon’s knife following the injury suffered in the Saturday’s 1-0 victory over West Brom.

The 30-year-old was forced off in the 21st minute having taken a heavy challenge from Chris Mepham early in the match.

Szmodics subsequently added on Twitter: “Gutted to pick up a minor knee injury in the last game. Thank you for the nice supportive messages after the op - always receive negative ones from the keyboard warriors, seem to know more about my situation then me!! Happy to be on the mend.”

That tweet was quickly removed and replaced with a longer message, the former Blackburn man having been the target of online criticism having pulled out of duty with the Republic of Ireland three times, twice this season and once last term after he underwent ankle surgery.

“On the mend after a minor knee op,” he wrote. “Thank you for all the supportive messages. Also thank you for all the keyboard warriors that know more about my life and my situation than I do!

“The last two weeks have been nothing shy of ridiculous [with] the amount of hate messages me and my family have received over the recent international football concerns.

“Injury comes with playing games and rest is so important otherwise things like this happen.

“Question my ability and performance but never my professionalism. Looking to be back asap. I will be making no more comment on the matter.”

Town also have concerns regarding Chuba Akpom, the player who replaced Szmodics at the weekend, the on-loan Ajax man subsequently having to make way himself having taken a boot to the ankle and lower shin.

Photo: Matchday Images

Bert added 18:26 - Oct 29 Hate towards others has been normalised by the behaviour of so called leaders giving licence to others to post what they like. Szmodics puts himself around so will get injuries. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that none of the abuse came from Ipswich supporters.
63

BlueWax added 18:34 - Oct 29 Agreed Bert. Totally out of order and cowardly behaviour by certain idiots. Wishing our 100% man super SS a speedy recovery
35

BeachBlue added 18:37 - Oct 29 Absolutely shameful behaviour by the keyboard warriors. This is why I don't bother with X.
15

armchaircritic59 added 18:41 - Oct 29 A symptom of the world we live in unfortunately. Those without a life target those with a good one. My message to those idiots is, go out and get one, ( a life that is! ). Hope you're back soon SS.
24

Gforce added 19:05 - Oct 29 Rest up Sammie,hope to see you back in the blue shirt asap,all the best.
19

Karlosfandangal added 19:28 - Oct 29 Hopefully a few on here will think again before they post…..Muric Philogene and Clarke will know how Sammy feels And if Town don’t go up which is a good possibility the hate will out again…….i will be disappointed but won’t be write hate to people I don’t know I have a life
9

flykickingbybgunn added 19:29 - Oct 29 What a disgraceful thing to to do run down a p!ayer because of his injury. He has my 100% support. Goodl uck Sam.
15

ArnieM added 20:23 - Oct 29 Get fit and back in the side ASAP Sammy... Town fans do love you. Not sure who these abusers were but id be amazed if it was Town fans....
7

jas0999 added 20:31 - Oct 29 Wish him a speedy recovery.Good player, so hope he is back soon.
8

leftie1972 added 20:36 - Oct 29 He always gives 100% and his commitment cannot be questioned. Wishing you a speedy recovery Sammie!
8

pinewood added 20:49 - Oct 29 It maybe a symptom of today , we need to stamp it out . I can understand peoples frustration , but c''mon grow up will you haters , in these days when Mr Plod will knock on your door for hate speech why carry on doing it , or are the police when it comes to hate speech looking in the wrong places, hate takes many forms and not just racist ones . Sammy best of wishes fella , you'll be right as nine pence soon , then put the haters in their place .

2

Bramidan added 21:13 - Oct 29 I really can’t understand the mentality of modern keyboard warriors. A professional footballer sustains an injury which requires surgery and imbeciles pile in to abuse him and his family. What is wrong with these people? I, as well as all ITFC fans, wish you a speedy recovery. All the best.
8

armchaircritic59 added 00:38 - Oct 30 karlosfandangal, spot on. Funny how those idiots never actually reveal their names. They will find others to abuse of course. We all love the game of football in here, but we also realise that there are actually more important things in life ( I hope! ).
2

Theipswich added 06:35 - Oct 30 The best o' luck and get back soon...we need you banging the goals in!
4

Broadbent23 added 08:13 - Oct 30 A footballer's career always comes with injury because the average player has to resort to thuggery to stop a player in full flow. Smoddy we need your energy and goal threat. Get well soon.
3

JewellintheTown added 08:26 - Oct 30 I'm confident that few ITFC fans will be involved in any abuse about pulling Sammy out of the Ireland squad. We all know him well enough that he gives it all. Sadly idiots will be idiots. That said, I'm not as confident that our players & management & even fans don't get abused by other ITFC fans under other circumstances though. There are opinions, then there's a scale all the way through to hate/ abuse. The latter especially needs to stop here. Cant complain about Sammys treatment by other "fans" when some dish it out to others at ITFC to the extreme. Fortunately most of us don't do that or call it out. Have an opinion but be respectful.

2

Stato added 08:30 - Oct 30 I really rate him. His work ethic ic is amazing. I have no problem witj people making negative comments on this forum but wtf is messaging players directtly all about ? This lad gives us everything when he pulls on the blue shirt and we arre lucky to have him
4

darkhorse28 added 08:40 - Oct 30 Bert. Hate towards others. Whilst writing a post on a football forum, about hating Trump. I’m no fan either, but you might want to look in the mirror. Pretty sure Trump isn’t responsible for human nature, millions of years in the making. Online abuse is normal, and always has been sadly. Paradoxically you typify the issue. Tribal, need to judge, need to divide, need to HATE. You and Trump are two cheeks of the same arse…, how can you illustrate you’re better than other people, if you don’t first divide people. It’s like you never stepped out of the cave.., tribalism, it’s all you see, you crave it, someone to rail against. Look in the mirror. You aren’t a ‘better’ person for hating Trump, you’re just another person that can’t practise what you preach, where’s the respect, the kindness, the tolerance, the nuance, the discourse. The listening. Can’t do it can you. All replaced by tribalism and HATE. Consumed by the same needs you project. You are Trump, you really don’t get that’s why he’s so successful. Get well soon Sammie…, huge effort guarenteed and can’t ask for more. We’ll miss the trigger for the press. It hasn’t worked, but only because it’s been a one man press at times.

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Linkboy13 added 08:42 - Oct 30 Feel sorry for him gives his all for the team but just doesn't fit into McKenna's complicated system.
1

TheLoveOfWisdom added 09:55 - Oct 30 Wouln't a better term for them be "Keyboard Cowards"?
4

carlo88 added 10:25 - Oct 30 There is a very simple answer to this, just don't have a social media presence. It's not essential and I have the feeling more and more people in the public eye may be stepping away from this in the future. Might even be seen as 'cool'.
5

Bert added 11:41 - Oct 30 I will let others judge the post from Darkhorse !
3

Ebantiass added 12:44 - Oct 30 I have been critical of his lack of goals and never really looking like he woould ever score for us or Ireland recently. That said i have also said his workrate and aptitude can not be held in question its just a shame both he and Hirst never ever look like scoring for us. Personal vile attacks are abhorrent and unnecessary and I hate keyboard warriors that spread hatred intolerance and bigotry online in this day and age. Wishing him a speedy recovery and may the goals begin to flow again.

3

MathieandMarshall added 13:22 - Oct 30 All of the online 'hate' I saw on Twitter (still refuse to call it X!) was from Irish fans claiming that this is what happens when you let players who are not Irish join the national team! Lots were accusing him of putting club before country. As many have commented already, as a Town fan, one thing you cant question with SS is his work rate / commitment. He's been unfortunate picking up quite a few niggly injuries since joining but I guess that comes from how he puts himself about?

1

blueboy1981 added 13:26 - Oct 30 Idiots will always be IDIOTS - best IGNORED !!
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