Academy Player of the Year Billy Clarke will have surgery on the medial knee ligament injury he sustained in the FA Youth Cup semi-final second leg at Spurs. The injury put the Irish U19 international out for the season and meant he missed both legs of the final.

Clarke, who goes into hospital today, told the club site that he is now looking to 2005/06: "I'm having the operation and then it will be a few weeks rest before building up the knee and my fitness during the summer.

"I was obviously disappointed to miss out on the Youth Cup final, but the lads did great and I was able to join in the celebrations on crutches.

"It's all about next year for me now though, and I just want to get back to fitness and playing football again."

The injury also forced Clarke out of Ireland's recent UEFA U19 Championship qualifiers in which they failed to make this summer's finals in Northern Ireland.

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