Worthington Latics blow

Injured Jon Worthington is helped from the field of play

ATHLETIC have been dealt a heavy blow with the news that combative midfielder Jon Worthington will be out of action for between four and five months.

The former Huddersfield man suffered serious ankle damage in the home game against Southampton three weeks ago and is set for surgery to repair damaged ligaments in the near future, meaning the 26-year-old will be absent from Dave Penney’s first-team squad until at least early March.

Worthington’s is a similar operation to that which was required by Lewis Alessandra. The 20-year-old striker had his loan spell at Blue Square Premier club Chester City cut short by his own ankle injury, which required an operation and will see him wear a cast for four more weeks, to be followed up by six weeks of rehab work.

The news isn’t much better elsewhere. Long-term absentee Rob Purdie, signed in the summer from Darlington but yet to turn out for Athletic, is still suffering from a serious pelvic problem and could yet be out of action for the next three months.

And full-back Kelvin Lomax — injured at Brighton — has bone bruising, knee capsule damage and a slight fracture of the leg. He will be examined further in the next few days, but is likely to be missing for two to eight weeks.

Alex Marrow (back) and Chris Taylor (hamstring) won’t be risked in tomorrow night’s home reserve clash with against Blackpool (7pm), but could be ready to take on Leeds United in Saturday’s FA Cup first round tie.

o DUE to demand for tickets from Leeds the decision has been taken, in consultation with the police, to allocate the whole of the Leesfield Developments stand to visitors for Athletic’s home league game against the Yorkshire side on December 1.

Season ticket holders in the Leesfield Developments stand will need to relocate to either the Vauxhall Pentagon main stand or the Detect All Alarms Chaddy End, and the club is asking fans to exchange tickets at the club office as soon as possible.