COVENTRY City full-back Cyrus Christie is set to miss the first half of the new season.
The 19-year-old defender is currently recovering from an operation to repair knee ligament damage and has six months of rehabilitation ahead of him, leaving the Sky Blues short on senior cover for first-choice right-back Jordan Clarke as they enter their League One campaign.
Christie suffered the injury at Burnley in April, less than 20 minutes after going on as a secondhalf substitute and leaving the Sky Blues down to ten men at a crucial stage of the eventual 1-1 draw when City looked to be getting the upper hand.
“I don't think Cyrus will be back until Christmas,“ confirmed City boss Andy Thorn.
“He did his anterior knee ligaments at Burnley and has had an op to repair it.“
The set-back is in stark contrast to last summer when the Academy graduate joined Thorn's squad in Portugal for pre-season training and shone. And when fellow right-back Clarke suffered a knee injury the teenager jumped at his chance to impress and was named in City's starting line-up against Leicester on the opening day of the club's ill-fated Championship season, going on to make 39 appearances.
“The injury has been a big blow for the kid, especially after the way he came back flying last summer,“ said Thorn.
“He worked really hard in the pre-season and earned his place in the first team. But that's what football throws at you sometimes. It's full of ups and downs.
“But he's got a great mentality and he'll come back from this, and come back stronger just like Jordan Clarke did when he came back from his injury mid-season.“
Christie's injury could see development squad players Jordan Willis and Aaron Phillips brought in as cover for Clarke on matchdays.
The 19-year-old defender is currently recovering from an operation to repair knee ligament damage and has six months of rehabilitation ahead of him, leaving the Sky Blues short on senior cover for first-choice right-back Jordan Clarke as they enter their League One campaign.
Christie suffered the injury at Burnley in April, less than 20 minutes after going on as a secondhalf substitute and leaving the Sky Blues down to ten men at a crucial stage of the eventual 1-1 draw when City looked to be getting the upper hand.
“I don't think Cyrus will be back until Christmas,“ confirmed City boss Andy Thorn.
“He did his anterior knee ligaments at Burnley and has had an op to repair it.“
The set-back is in stark contrast to last summer when the Academy graduate joined Thorn's squad in Portugal for pre-season training and shone. And when fellow right-back Clarke suffered a knee injury the teenager jumped at his chance to impress and was named in City's starting line-up against Leicester on the opening day of the club's ill-fated Championship season, going on to make 39 appearances.
“The injury has been a big blow for the kid, especially after the way he came back flying last summer,“ said Thorn.
“He worked really hard in the pre-season and earned his place in the first team. But that's what football throws at you sometimes. It's full of ups and downs.
“But he's got a great mentality and he'll come back from this, and come back stronger just like Jordan Clarke did when he came back from his injury mid-season.“
Christie's injury could see development squad players Jordan Willis and Aaron Phillips brought in as cover for Clarke on matchdays.