Oxford United striker Alfie Potter has broken his ankle and is unlikely to play again this season, the club has revealed.
The injury is a big blow to United's promotion challenge, with Potter featuring in 27 of the U's 32 games so far this campaign, scoring twice. The 23-year-old pacy forward fell awkwardly in training on Friday and was taken to hospital immediately.
A scan revealed a displaced fracture of the talus, a bone in the lower part of the ankle joint. The former Peterborough United wide man saw a specialist on Saturday, who advised him he will need an operation putting him out for a number of months.
United are short of options up front despite taking Scott Rendell on loan from Wycombe Wanderers until the end of the season. Potter has been playing in a front three with Jon-Paul Pittman supporting top scorer James Constable in recent weeks, and his place could be filled by new signing Oli Johnson.
With Deane Smalley on loan at Bradford City until the end of the season and Tom Craddock breaking down again in an injury-plagued season, that leaves only Rendell and Australian Under 20 striker Matthew Fletcher pushes for a place in the starting 11.
