Martin Kelly: Liverpool defender ruptures cruciate knee ligament

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Liverpool's Martin Kelly

Liverpool's Martin Kelly will be out of action for at least six months and will require surgery on a knee injury.

The 22-year-old England international ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the closing stages of the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.

A club statement said the academy product will be ruled out for a "significant period of time".

Kelly told his Twitter followers: "It's not the worst injury I've had and I'll be fighting for my place next year."

The full-back had a scan on Monday morning and vowed to come back "fitter and stronger".

Liverpool said Kelly would require "ACL reconstruction", meaning the right-back, called up into the England squad for Euro 2012, will be unavailable for at least six months.

He has made 54 appearances for the club since his debut against PSV in the Champions League in 2008 but the Whiston-born defender's career has been hampered by injury.

He did not play for almost two years while at the Liverpool Academy because of a back problem, and hamstring and groin injuries have blighted his senior career.

But he had featured regularly this season for Brendan Rodgers, playing at full-back in four of their five Premier League games.

There was better news on Daniel Agger as the central defender did not, as had been feared, suffer ligament damage during Sunday's defeat.

The Denmark international was carried off on stretcher in the second half of the loss to United after colliding with team-mate Glen Johnson.

"No ligament damage was sustained but further tests will be carried out before it can be established when he will be able to return to training," Liverpool said.

Forward Fabio Borini is another injury concern after the £11m summer signing was replaced at half-time because of a bruised foot and a swollen ankle.

"The club's medical staff will wait for the swelling to reduce before an MRI scan can take place tomorrow [Tuesday] to assess any soft tissue damage and determine when he may be able to return to playing," added the club.

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  • There is something about young promising English footballers, they always have their development disrupted by serious injuries. Whether they are playing too much or the training does not protect their bodies, I don't know. Perhaps it is sheer bad luck.

    Kelly looks a good prospect for England and this is a real shame. I just hope Jack Wilshere can fulfil his potential because he is top class.

  • Seriously?!?! I would love to have an insight into the lives of people who go onto an article about an injured player at a club they dont support and spout a load of inane irrelevant garbage...do you just sit in front of the computer refreshing the sports page all day? or perhaps take a break to watch jeremy kyle? lmao....wishing Martin Kelly a speedy recovery

  • Andre Wisdom ready made replacement. Quick, strong, good going forward, Liverpool have no worries @ RB

  • Not many teams would have been able to keep Man United at bay with ten men for three quarters of the game and at the end only a penalty could break the lock.

  • Damn, all seems to be going the way of the excrement creek for Liverpool at the moment. Am a gooner but hope they can pull it around

  • @77 I agree harmless banter is what makes British football the best in the world. I grew up on Bury v Bolton banter in the early 90's and i wouldnt change a word exchanged :D

  • A big loss to Liverpool, hers hoping against hope that both Kelly and Agger mage a speedy recovery

  • @Almostajoker...The BBC are blocking posts that mock the victims of the hillsborough tragedy. I encourage you to exercise your right to free speech in front of liverpudlians face to face instead of in a cowardly anonymous fashion.

    Free speech is VERY important, it's just sad that you choose to exercise that right to make fun of victims of tragedy and their families

    shame on you

  • Good luck to Kelly, a fantastic player. Horrible injury.

    At real speed I though the ref got every decision correct, slow-mo's showed otherwise. Is the game too fast with too may rules for human eyes? I think so.

    The idiots tweeters and 2 doing aeroplane should be banned from football grounds indefinitely.
    Same for Hillsborough chants.
    They started it is a childish pathetic excuse.

  • So sorry for Martin, an excellent player and together with Danny out, life has suddenly become very interesting. I do however feel like Brendon Rodgers in having faith in the youngsters who play to win and are not there just making an appearance. I hope Martin and Danny make a speedy and highly successful recovery.
    I was dissapointed by the provocation shown by Manure fans on Sunday.

  • The majority of fans are behind BR and are accepted that we aren't going for the league anytime soon. The long term plan is good and the youth coming through are being given a chance and are grabbing it with both hands.
    There is no money left and Liverpool need to build foundations for the future. 2 years ago the club was minutes away from the same as Rangers.

  • Bad luck fella. hope you have speedy recovery. YNWA

  • #99

    Why not blame the ref if he got the decisions wrong? Who else is to blame? Several poor decisions - the pen that was given, the pens that weren't for LFC, the foul on Sterling by Evra that went unpunished, the foul by Van Persie that only got a yellow, no booking for Evans at all.

    Disgusting tweets to Halsey. It doesn't shame LFC - they're not fans of the club. Just sad trolls... YNWA

  • LFC performances have generally been excellent. Not got the results well that happens. They should've got a win against City and deserved something from the Utd game where they dominated even tho playing more than an hour with ten men.
    The youngsters coming thru are looking good, the futures bright. Keep the faith.
    Kelly will be back, better than ever.

  • What a shame that this thread has descended into the usual childish idiotic squabbles between different sets of supporters! I wish Martin Kelly a speedy recovery, a nice lad who hasn't forgotten where he comes from, if you can't wish him well take your squabbles elsewhere!

  • As a United fan, and as someone who has also torn their anterior cruciate ligament, I would like to wish Martin Kelly a speedy recovery. It is a horrible injury and as soon as I saw his leg buckle under his body weight I knew what it was straight away!!
    Best of luck with your rehab!

  • @62: given the current climate, it's probably best not to use it then.

    @63: most decisions spot on? Like not sending off Evans too, and the penalty decisions?

  • @58: of course, but surely you are aware of the more recent insinuations of the chant regarding Hillsborough? Therefore, it is surely not too clever to use the phrase in the current climate as you must know the feelings it provokes. People are not over-sensitive regarding this - the amount of coverage and requests from many in football for the chant not to be sung make it obvious why it is unwise.

  • I see the word "victims" will now get you instantly modded. From now on it must be called 'the V word'.

    Feel sorry for the lad, these types of injury need plenty of recover time. Hope he doesn't try and rush back.

  • Longer than the injury Ramsay received at Arsenal which Van Persie and his then team-mates complained so bitterly ablah blah blah, wah wah wah.
    --------
    Errr no, not at all - Ramsay was out for almost a year.

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