MORECAMBE boss Jim Bentley says he is “devastated’’ with the news that striker A-Jay Leitch-Smith is set to miss the rest of the season through injury.
Leitch-Smith suffered a hamstring injury in the game against his former club Crewe on Saturday and scans have shown the injury to be worse than first thought.
Bentley said: “It is devastating news for us but more so for the player himself.
“He’s done well for us this season. He’s a good lad who is well respected around the dressing room and a good player too so to lose him now at this stage of the season is hard to take because he has been one of our main players.
“It is a devastating blow but we will do right by him and get him back fitter and stronger than before.’'
Shrimps’ physio, Simon Farnworth, said: “A-Jay has got a bad tear and he needs to go to London to see a specialist on Saturday who will decide if he needs to operate.
“Looking at it it could mean he is out for three months or six months but either way he is going to be out for some time.
“It was a really bad one that might need an operation. The hamstring has torn all the way from the top insertion down to the bottom and is a serious one.’'
A-Jay added: “It wasn’t news I wanted to hear but I’ve got to get things right.
“I've never had anything like this before. I know it is part and parcel of football but it is hard to take.
“There was no real contact but there was a real sharp pain in my hamstring. I didn’t think it was going to be as bad as it was I must be honest and I’m really disappointed that I won’t be part of the team for the rest of the season.''