Serious ankle injury brings young Newcastle star’s loan spell to an end
Surely already up for the title of unluckiest United player this season is young Newcastle star Liam Smith.
The midfielder turns 21 later this month but looks to have little to celebrate.
Liam Smith was the first of Newcastle’s players to seal a loan deal (loan players going out ended up well into double figures) this summer, agreeing to join Crewe Alexandra until January, hoping to build on the promise of his loan spell at Blackpool late last season.
The young midfielder spent pre-season with Crewe but was then stretchered off with an ankle injury in a friendly against Bolton, returning to Tyneside to recover.
Recently returning to Crewe, Liam Smith has been building his fitness up as he looked forward to making a belated debut for his loan club.
However, Crewe Alexandra Manager Steve Davis has now revealed that in training, Liam Smith has picked up an even worse injury to his other ankle.
Davis says that after doing their assessments they are sure he will be returning to the north east without a single minute on the pitch for them, though he is waiting for Newcastle United to confirm that diagnosis.
Steve Davis:
“Liam Smith has picked up a bad injury in training so we’re in conversations with Newcastle about that.
“It’s unfortunate but sometimes there are things you can’t avoid.
“He was only here until January and if that injury is two, three or four months that will take us to January so he wouldn’t be able to take any part in the loan that we’ve had him here for, which is unfortunate as he’s a talented lad who has had bad luck with his injury.
“We have done our assessments and it’s just about making sure they are correct.
“It’s just unfortunate.
“He’s a talented lad who would’ve done well for us and we all feel for him.”
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