Town boss Kieran McKenna has revealed that midfielder Dominic Ball is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury which will require surgery.

Ball, who joined the Blues on a free transfer in the summer having left QPR, was absent from the squad which faced Cheltenham today having picked up the knock at Charlton a fortnight ago.

“Dominic’s been seeing a specialist so we’re waiting for a report on that. Dominic’s unfortunately got a very severe knee injury that in all likeliness rules him out for the season,” McKenna said.

“He picked it up really innocuously in the Charlton game, didn’t feel quite right in the Bracknell game on Monday night and has seen a specialist this week and has an issue with his meniscus that’s going to need quite a complicated surgery.

“Extremely disappointed for him first and foremost because I think he was primed to be a really big player for us and really improve and kick on in his career, so very disappointing for him but knowing his character he’ll bounce back from it.

“Tyreece John-Jules, his hamstring injury is more severe than we hoped, so he’s again getting a specialist’s opinion whether he needs a surgical repair, but it’s going to be a matter of months rather than weeks.

“Janoi [Donacien] was just tight, he felt some tightness in the warm-up and he felt that tightness continue as the game went on. Hopefully nothing major but was probably the right decision at this moment to put his hand up and come off before there was any more damage.”

Reflecting on what’s a lengthy list of injuries at present, McKenna added: “It’s quite a really strange period, to be honest. We’ve had a very unusual amount of surgeries, a very unusual amount of contact injuries and bizarre falls, and like Dominic’s injury, Greg Leigh’s injury or Sone [Aluko]’s injury where it’s a major joint injury without any contact.

“We’ve only had two muscular injuries in the whole season, Wes Burns, who missed around 10 days, and now Tyreece.

“Other than that, no muscle injuries which is, of course, what you usually look at and analyse as a group of staff.

“Usually, you attribute contact injuries or in our case a lot of the time non-contact injuries, which are the most hard to avoid and plan for and we seem to have had a very large number of them.

“Probably another area where the rub of the green hasn’t been on our side, but we have to stay really strong as a group of players, as a staff. The boys are fighting, I don’t think anyone can question for one second the attitude or commitment of the players on the match pitch, certainly not on the training ground and I’ve full belief in this group to keep performing and keep picking up results.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Saxonblue74 added 08:06 - Nov 13 That comment from Robsonwark should be removed. Differing opinions are what this forum is all about, but that crosses the line.
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Orraman added 11:36 - Nov 13 That's two yellows already for Morsy since his latest suspension so probably not too long before his 2 game ban for 10 yellows. So many are due to malicious intent caused by his frustration when losing the ball. Yesterday's booking was a clear example of that and surely only a matter of time before the real red mist comes down and he cops a red card. With our current pressure on midfielders he really needs to calm down because if he goes on another ban that leaves young Humphries and Camara who is still playing his way back from long term injury which is not ideal for either of them. Can he keep out of further trouble until January transfe4 window or the return of Evans. I somehow doubt it. In addition his slowness in getting balls forward played right into Cheltenham hands as this gave them time to rebuild the brick wall before we could pounce. Yes, his work rate is good as is his close ball control but he does carry significant deficiences

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blueboy1981 added 14:21 - Nov 14 It's quite obvious that we have a large-ish squad of Players who are either not fit enough, or good enough for Div' 3 - and that's where we are ! My opinion is that our position in the Div' is flattering to be honest, If we stay there, Good, I will be proved wrong, but suspect I won't be. We have little, if anyone in Players actually of Championship Standard - Walton and Ladapo exceptions, Ladapo would get his required service at Championship level - it has been proved previously ! We are being made out by many Supporters as being better than we really are - but again sincerely hope I'm proved wrong. Many others will be having doubts about the second half of the season, I'm sure. The January window will be a focus of attention for many, who know what they are seeing !

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Pilgrimblue added 19:22 - Nov 14 Very sad for him but so pleased that Greg on his way back as I like him and hope he'll do well
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