John-Joe O`Toole suffered a long-term knee injury akin to those recently befalling Manchester United striker Michael Owen and AC Milan`s David Beckham when he crumpled without contact against Charlton on Tuesday.
The battling midfielder, who said he felt something “crack” has had limited playing time over the last two months but started in midweek after teammate Anthony Wordsworth was forced out with suspension.
But former Watford player O`Toole latest less than twenty-five minuets, being stretchered off after falling in his own box during build up to what proved the deciding goal in a narrow 1-0 loss for his team.
“I think we`ve lost John-Joe O`Toole to a serious knee injury. When you see a player go down like that, it doesn`t look good. He said he felt something crack and that`s not really what you want to be hearing,” Aidy Boothroyd, told BBC Radio Essex of his January acquisition.
The Colchester boss added: “He`s put all his weight on his left knee and he`s felt a crack. It`s a defending one-v-one situation; he kind of eats them up, he likes them. He steps all over the person he`s playing against and gets the ball, but he`s been really unfortunate. He`s twisted one way, then the other and felt it go. It`s the last thing you want for any player. “
A lengthy layoff awaits the 21-year-old box-to-box Irishman, whose prognosis is suspected crucuaite ligament damage.
O`Toole was seen using stably using crutches following his substitution as he watched the rest of the match action from the bench.
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Feel really sorry for John-Joe… Really like his style…! Up the U’s!