Jinxed Rob’s surgery cure
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 04 February 2010
OUT . . . Rob Purdie’s hip problems mean he will miss the entire campaign.
Specialist gets to the root of Purdie problem
PARK LIFE: ROB PURDIE has been dubbed the 'Lord Lucan' of Boundary Park.
Missing since he signed from Darlington on a two-year deal last summer, the utility player has endured serious injury woes which have meant he has been unable to register a solitary first-team performance.
It has led some wags to even question if he really exists at all — but as far as Athletic boss Dave Penney is concerned, the whole episode has been a very human tragedy for the likeable 27-year-old, who is set for an operation on his hip which will finally end his season for good.
"It has been an ongoing thing with Rob," Penney said of the man who was his first Athletic signing in May of last year.
"Finally, touch wood, the specialist has found out what is wrong with him.
"He has had other operations already which haven't cured the problem so, hopefully for the boy, this will finally sort it out.
"Obviously the hip operation will put him out for the rest of the season. It has been a nightmare for him and for us, really.”
Purdie, who started his career at his home-town club Leicester City, is not used to extended periods of inaction due to injury.
In three consecutive seasons, starting from when he was at Hereford in 2006-07, he has played in 39 league games or more.
It makes Purdie's long absence, which began when he first suffered the injury in training in June, all the more difficult to take.
"He hardly missed a game for me at Darlington in two years," added Penney.
"He played a lot of games and was available week-in, week-out, so to get this and not to be able to get to the bottom of it has been most disappointing.
"Perhaps if we had done so early doors we could have got it sorted and he would be back playing now."
Andy Holdsworth is another player for whom the season could have already reached its end.
The former Huddersfield full-back had an operation to cure tendonitis in his knee in mid-December and though he has begun gym work, it seems he won't be back in first-team contention until the 2010-11 campaign begins.
"I wouldn't imagine Andy will play again this season either," Penney said.
"I am not ruling him out, but he has got a sore knee that has had quite a big operation on it.
"So we are not putting a time scale on Andy — when he is fit, he is fit."
