Town midfielder or sweeper Stuart Niven has suffered another setback to his career after sustaining what may be a very serious leg injury during Tuesday's 5-1 Combination League win at Layer Road. The twenty-year-old caught his studs in the turf and twisted his right knee. He has broken no bones, however the extent of damage to ligaments is yet to be ascertained.
This is the latest setback to a career which looked to be on a fast-track to success when he made his debut for the the first team at Bramall Lane three years ago. After making one more appearence the Scottish youth international returned to the reserves where he has been ever since. Over the last year or so he has moved from the midfield role which took him into the first team to a sweeper's role and has appeared on the bench a couple of times this season. With his contract up at the end of the season a serious injury is the last thing Niven needs.
Matt Holland seems likely to win his first full cap for Ireland at the weekend now that Blackburn's Lee Carsley has joined Roy Keane on the sidelines. The Irish take on Macedonia in Skopje on Saturday.