Striker Jon Walters will be out for six months having suffered a partial rupture of his achilles during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers. The 35-year-old was forced off shortly after coming on as a sub against his former club.

"One-time skipper Walters rejoined the Blues late in August on loan from Burnley until January and now won’t play again before that spell is due to end.

Walters, who has made just two starts and the weekend sub appearance without scoring, will return to Turf Moor to undergo his rehabilitation.

The Republic of Ireland international, who had missed the match against Brentford having initially suffered an achilles problem in the previous game at Hull, underwent a scan at the weekend, then saw a specialist in London today where he was given the bad news regarding the extent of the injury.

“I’m obviously gutted with the news,” Walters told the club website. “That’s football though. That’s life I suppose as well and while I’m really disappointed, there are a lot of people worse off than me.""

“I’ll work hard and get back to fitness as soon as I can. I’ve enjoyed being back here and I want to wish the club all the best for the rest of the season.”

Speaking after Saturday's game, manager Paul Hurst admitted it was an incorrect call to include Walters.

“Clearly it was the wrong decision to involve him and I’m the one to make that decision," he said.

"But I think Jon would certainly be the first one to say that he trained yesterday [Friday] and said he felt fine.

“We said we’d look at it again in the morning to see if anything developed overnight and he said he felt fine.

“He’s an experienced pro, I’m sure desperate to be involved, but if he didn’t feel he was right he wouldn’t have put himself up for selection."

Walters's injury means Hurt will no longer have to make a decision on which of his six loanees to leave out of his matchday squad with only five permitted.

I’m naturally devastated with the news about my Achilles injury. However bad things may seem at the time, in the grand scheme of life it’s just an insignificant bump and there’s a hell of a lot of people worse off than me. Thank you to @Official_ITFC physios for the great care.– Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) September 27, 2018

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 17:47 - Sep 26 Although clearly this isn't hursts fault, the club knew he wasnt fully fit and had injury problems. I like Walters, but ultimately it was a risk bringing in an player with an injury record and not fit. The risk didn't pay off and leaves us woefully short of striking options. It would however seem a poor decision to risk him Saturday. Perhaps in future, selling two championship strikers and releasing another before bringing in two players with no championship experience and who were cheaper in terms of fees and wages should be considered as a very bad idea by the club. The loan of Walters was forced due to this. I'd suggest the whole situation has been badly managed by ITFC.

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blueboy1981 added 17:48 - Sep 26 ricardo55555 ......... typical excuse - a good physio should indeed know if a player was fit, which Walters clearly wasn't ..... !!! Dozzell is supposed to be unfit, maybe judged by the same physio - yes ? Question marks all round then - including the Manager.
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blueboy1981 added 17:59 - Sep 26 Mr Hurst - as much as I, and many, want you to succeed - it is not looking good whichever direction, one choses to look. Realistically, and honestly, I cannot see him being up to turning this ship around. A defeat this coming weekend, has to set all the Alarm bells off. Let's hope for that first WIN, but I've not seen a Pig fly yet - but would welcome that experience, this weekend for sure.

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BaaBaaBlue added 18:00 - Sep 26 I'd say this is fate.. perhaps we'll end up getting somebody else in on loan, when possible..and they'll do a better job than Walters would have (even though I'm a fan of Walters) ..I love how everyone (mostly) talks so negatively about things that *might* happen.. what a way to live your life. Shocking
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BlueArrow added 18:04 - Sep 26 The Atlantic Swimmer strikes again. Just should never have been played against Bolton
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I_AM_GOD added 18:08 - Sep 26 It is very hard to not look negatively at anything around the club at the moment - results, the players, the manager, injuries - except the younger players and teams. We do need to get behind the team, but the manager will always have to face the full on fury of the fans, and it is not an easy decision to decide when it is time to pull the plug. Yes, the player has a big say in if fit or not to play, but we don't know what the sports science was telling the physio/manager, so hard to lay blame anywhere really. Equally, can we keep blaming our bad luck for everything. I do believe there will have to be a change soon - one or two more games at most - not just for surviving in the Championship, but to stop the toxicity growing in the fans yet again. But equally, who do we bring in to fix it? I see calls for Burley - but will we all be disappointed if a return to the past does not work out? It's been a few years since his time in management. As much as I want all of these options we try - stick with Hurst, bring in Burley, etc. - I am glad I am not the one making the decisions!! You will be hated either way.

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ArnieM added 18:10 - Sep 26 Partial or full makes no difference . That's Walters done for the season ( usually 9 months) and due to his age will probably now be his goodbye at this level. Very sad. And for those likely to moan he should never have been risked. This is a chronic, and age related degenerative condition and at 35yrs if age was ALWAYS likely to happen. It could have even gone just walking across the road, but usually during a change of velocity of movement. Question is for Town, what now? Can / does Walters return to his parent Club and can we get another loan player in?

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muccletonjoe added 18:18 - Sep 26 Thankfully , we can't get in anymore loans, we can only sign free agents. There is of course the under23s , but they are not loans nor have they been signed by Hurst.
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Westy added 18:21 - Sep 26 We finally land a player, albeit on loan, that can influence a game and he is played before he had recovered from a previous injury. It just shows how desperate Paul Hurst has become. At the age Walters is at it could even end his career. Well done Paul Hurst
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leroygibbs added 18:22 - Sep 26 Well that was a waste of f***ing time, yet another inspired loan signing.
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Lathers added 18:23 - Sep 26 Presume the loan deadline has passed and we will have to wait until January now, unless emergency loans still exist? From what I've seen this season Harrison and Jackson's hold up play and first touch is questionable. Walters was the one player we could play off and get us further up the pitch. Championship defences are too savvy to allow a paceman in behind them and that's all we have to offer now. It's a huge shame that many naive footballing decisions were made in the Summer and I fear the damage will be done by the time the January window opens.

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mickeyjb added 18:25 - Sep 26 What a joke (not for Jon I wish him the best) some people are stating that we should have never got rid of Mick, I though Hurst couldn't be worse than the old regime however in my unimportant view we've gone from one 🔔end to a different one with even less talent!!! Oh happy days!
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braveblue added 18:25 - Sep 26 People day Dozzell was fitter than Walters. Maybe so but he isn't a striker!!!! If you want to blame someone make it Evans. Last minute panic loans because he would not invest. £5m profit in players over the close season and look at us now. Get out of our club!!!
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AlfBuksh added 18:32 - Sep 26 Blueandtruesince82 Spot on!
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mickeyjb added 18:32 - Sep 26 By the way I bet Burnley are really pleased too. They manage to get a players wages off the books for 6 months and put him in the shop window. Now they will be paying his wages until his contract is paid up once his rehab has been sorted with probably no chance of selling him in Jan or at the end of the season! I agree that this probably career ending for John which is a sad end to a decent career.

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benknight73 added 18:33 - Sep 26 What the hell is wrong with the majority of posters on here? PH isn't the one this club would be better off without, it's you people. We're supposed to be supporters. Seriously, get a grip. Also, have any of you got the faintest idea what has happened behind closed doors? No, so just be quiet. If you want to be part of a team that wins everything and has it easy, go and follow Man City. Idiots.

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soclopath added 18:33 - Sep 26 It seems as though Mr Hurst's career at our football club was doomed from the start,how this is resolved is in the hands of Mr Evans just hope we don't have to wait until Christmas,the fans need something to get excited before then.
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Len_Brennan added 18:34 - Sep 26 The one signing that gave me hope we could turn it around upfront & start to pose a real goal scoring threat for the weeks ahead. His experience & guile will be missed as much, if not more, than his ability forward/finisher. I had hoped he would bring Jackson on & help him settle into Championship football, confidence & composure. Massive loss to us.
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NoelTheDub added 18:42 - Sep 26 The NHS should have an investigation at our once great club we are a total joke for so many reasons.Walters was injured prior to us panicking at the last minute of the transfer window to satisfy our moaning good paying fans.Martin O Neil played him on his own up front v Wales and destroyed him and sent him back to us to recover never did.Our club is dying for many years now and the powers to be will get what they deserve league 1 or lower in my view.

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Tractorboy1985 added 19:06 - Sep 26 It is HURSTS fault.. wake up!! He wasn't fit but gambled as he is totally out of his depth on a player that wasn't fit! Should have never been on the bench! Unlike Dozzell who eases through U23 games but can't play 20 minutes for the first team! Patience has totally run out with this numpty and the running of this football club! If Evans had any ambition he would have given lampard the job and we would have all seen the football we want to watch! But no he waited for the cheapest option.. cashed in on our best players and let a dog and duck type of manager bring in players that aren't up to championship football! 2 games and if no win this man should be shown the door!

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Bergholtblue added 19:07 - Sep 26 Firstly - my condolences go to Jon and I which him a speedy recovery. I hope this doesn't signal the end of his career. I was pleased when he re-signed for us and whilst I knew he wasn't going to get a hatfull of goals, his in-game coaching to mothers around him would have helped them immensely. Secondly - Posters have latched onto this to have yet another go at Hurst. This is not entirely his fault and would have been greatly influenced in his decision to play Jon Walters by what Jon himself told him about the extent of his injury. If fingers must be pointed they must be pointed at the medical staff and fitness coach. Those who are calling for Dozzell to feature have to realise that this will make them even more cautious about bringing him back. So I see much of the same for the near future. The side that finished the half against Bolton played OK for large spells of the second half. I hope that Hurst sticks with this and gets a settled side, instead of choppy and changing 5 or 6 players at a time. Birmingham is a must win Saturday. I cannot see us getting much more joy until Millwall and Preston at the end of October/Early February.. I truly hope that I am proved wrong.

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Talbs77 added 19:10 - Sep 26 Well I think it's safe to say we are officially in trouble. If someone had given me the worst case scenario at the start of the season this would pretty much be it. In short we need to find a goalscorer whether that be in midfield or up front. Errr.......no me neither. I really don't know where we go from here. For the first time in a generation I think all fans fear this season. Easy to blame Hurst I'm not going to turn on him. More than ever we need to stick together and support him. What is the alternative? This could be painful but it's our club we have keep going.

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Swn98 added 19:22 - Sep 26 Blueboy keep of the politics posts they are worse than your dullard football ones. With regards to your vitriol about my young progressive manager comment YOU and your like are the ones that wanted change and change you got enjoy.
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Swn98 added 19:23 - Sep 26 By the way Bluebore define a true supporter ? I support the club not other supporters.
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cat added 19:25 - Sep 26 Am i the only one on here who thinks Jackson's got potential???? I'm sticking with PH at least until the end of October. If things ain't improved by then I'm jumping ship.
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