Town boss Kieran McKenna has confirmed that winger Wes Burns is out for the season having suffered an ACL injury at Liverpool last week.

The Wales international was subbed in the 29th minute having caught his studs as he made a challenge on Cody Gakpo. The 30-year-old was stretchered off and left Anfield with his foot in a boot and McKenna confirmed that the injury is as signficant as had been feared.

“He's got a torn ACL, so we go for surgery next week, and we know that's a significant period of time in terms of the timeline,” McKenna said.

“He's seen the very best people. It's not a very, very complicated tear, I believe, you can never call an ACL straightforward, but it's an orthodox procedure, and everyone's really positive about the prognosis.

“Of course, he'll miss the rest of the season, and we'll miss him, but he'll be well looked after.”

He added: “It's a blow, no doubt about that. Wes and Chieo Ogbene are pretty unique profiles for us, so to lose both of them in the course of one season and with the qualities that they have being so important to our system, it is a blow. That is what it is.

“But look, we have good depth in the squad and we have other players who can fill the role in different ways and with different qualities.

“We're not going to make any late panicked decisions in the transfer market. If there are players that could really help us and improve us, then we'd like to do so, but we're not going to add numbers just for the sake of cover. We're pretty strong in terms of cover.”

McKenna says the Wales international has taken the setback as well as might have been anticipated.

“He’s OK, he’s dealt with it well, in his stride,” he said. “Of course, he’s disappointed that he’s going to miss the rest of the season and miss a chunk.

“But he’s got a good perspective on it as well. We spoke after the game, there’s no good time and it’s always very unfortunate for the player but he also is one who is really appreciative that three years ago he was playing at Fleetwood and doing a significant injury then is worse than doing it off the back of a couple of promotions and almost 20 games in the Premier League and having made a good contribution this year.

“He’ll be very well looked after, he’ll come back strong, I’ve got no doubts on that. We were all disappointed for him but he’s also got a really healthy perspective on it that over the course of a football career, these things can happen and thankfully he was in a good place when it did happen.”

Photo: Reuters

mathiemagic added 14:17 - Jan 31 Shame for the lad, especially if we dont avoid relegation.
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Suffolkboy added 14:22 - Jan 31 The physical demands of PL level football cannot be underestimated ,and regretfully WB ,I think, has strained to stretch every sinew to meet the challenges .It might be just this which has led to the awful injury . We must wish him well in the recovery process and hope it’s successful all round ! All the best WB ! COYB
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E_I_E_I_E_I_O added 14:27 - Jan 31 Unfortunately for Wes that could have been his last Prem football....to the contrary of the first comment I'd wonder if players like Burns (especially now injured) would almost prefer us to go down. Much more likely he'd have a more involved future here if we do.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 14:45 - Jan 31 Gutted for him I would play Omari on the right . We have several choices for the 10 role.
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PortmanTerrorist added 14:48 - Jan 31 Some people on here drive me mad. As if it was not hard enough for some of these lads to step up to Premier League level, so many judged Wes when (on top of that) he was returning from another injury at the start of the season. Injuries are always sad, but when he was turning in excellent displays, was becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet again, and was shoving those stupid comments down some 'fans' throats...this happens. Great lad, great attitude and just hope that when he comes back he can get fully fit as these ACL's are a #### to properly recover from. All the best Wes, do what the docs say, and see you next season. COYB....LET'S DO IT FOR WES !

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Cavendish_Blue added 14:57 - Jan 31 All the best with your recovery and kick every ball from the touchline !!!!
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WestSussexBlue added 15:10 - Jan 31 All the best Wes, will be missed and has grown as a player including this season. See you in Pre season for our Second Premier League campaign.
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Uhlenbeek added 15:24 - Jan 31 Gutted for Wes. I think the prem has proven a step too far for him but a useful squad player and will always be a legend in my mind after the last two years. Hope for a full recovery and that we haven't seen the last of him in a town shirt.
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Edmundo added 15:27 - Jan 31 Such a great character and one of the stars of our meteoric rise. Recover fully and see you on the pitch in August/September hopefully, Wes.
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blues1 added 15:34 - Jan 31 Suffolkboy. The injury has nothing to do with thexdemands of the premier lge. Itchappened bcse as he landed his foot into the ground, his knee wentcthe other way. Exactly as most, if not all ACL injuries happen.
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Stato added 15:40 - Jan 31 No goals and no assists this season says it all. Way behind Chappers and Hutchinson with goal involvements last season so the clues were there. Only KMs almost utter refusal to play Hutchinson on the right has led to the madness of Burns getting so much pitch time and so little for Chaolin. Thats in McKenna obviously not Burns but adds up to the same thing
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Scuzzer added 16:16 - Jan 31 I feel devastated for the guy. Wes has been with us since the very beginning of this amazing journey we've been on and don't want him to have missed any part of what we have achieved. Poor guy.
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Bramidan added 17:13 - Jan 31 Good luck with the rehabilitation, great player for ITFC and what an attitude, Good luck, mate. Your first time whipped in crosses will be missed
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Motown added 19:36 - Jan 31 The good thing is, when KM says he'll be well looked after and see the very best people, we know that will be the case. And that ability across the club to keep things in perspective, stay level and appreciate what we have will stand us in good stead down the stretch.
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