It looks like season over for unlucky Chesterfield defender after new injury
Chesterfield defender Malik Owolabi-Belewu looks like being out for the full season after suffering another cruel injury.
The centre-half suffered a slip in training and has damaged his achilles.
"Malik has done his achilles bad and it probably season over,” said assistant manager Danny Webb, speaking after today's victory at Oldham Athletic.
"Since he has arrived he has carried himself with such professionalism. He is a lovely kid and a good player and it is just sad he has had some really bad injuries through no fault of his own and sadly this is the worst one so far.”
The 24-year-old joined Chesterfield as a free agent in January following the expiry of his contract at Canadian Premier League club Forge FC.
He has been restricted to six appearances in all, three of them against Fleetwood, Salford and Rotherham United this term.
Owolabi-Belewu had been due to play in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy tie at home to Manchester City U21s.
"He probably would have started on Tuesday,” acknowledged Webb. "He hasn’t had a run of games and when you are so close to getting in the team and that happens to you, it is so unfortunate. Our thoughts are with him but he has a lot of support around him and I’m sure he will be fine.”
Webb also revealed that Ryan Stirk was taken off as a precaution in the second half at Boundary Park.
“It was a tight hamstring and when you have people like Tom Naylor on the bench it is a no-brainer not to risk any further injury to Ryan,” he added.