Fingers crossed for Worthington

Jon Worthington receiving treatment on Saturday before being stretchered off

JON WORTHINGTON faces an anxious wait to discover the severity of the ankle injury sustained early on in Athletic’s home defeat by Southampton.

The good news is that the combative midfield man’s left ankle is not broken, as was feared after he fell awkwardly following a tackle.

Worthington will learn the extent of the damage after a scan, but that will only take place once the swelling has reduced.

He was hurt less than 15 minutes into the game and his left leg was placed in a splint before he was removed from the Boundary Park pitch on a stretcher.

Worthington was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital amid fears he had broken his ankle.

He said: “I got my foot tangled after making a tackle and all my body weight came down on it.

“There is a lot of swelling and that will have to go down before I can have an MRI scan to see what damage there is. Fortunately there is no break which is at least one good piece of news.”

Worthington joins Athletic’s lengthy casualty list, which includes long-term absentees Rob Purdie, Joe Jacobson and Deane Smalley.

Alan Sheehan, Chris Taylor and Andy Holdsworth have also been sidelined of late, but there is some positive news for manager Dave Penney on the injury front.

Holdsworth, who has missed the last six matches with a knee injury, is in full training and could be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Brighton.

Sheehan, who has been ruled out of the last two games with an ankle injury, is also likely to return for the south coast test.