NUFC star set to be ruled out for the rest of the year after ominous Steve Bruce comments?

If Steve Bruce’s latest comments on Matt Ritchie’s shoulder injury are anything to go by, we won’t see him back in action again this year.

Speaking after yesterday’s 1-1 draw in North London, Bruce admitted that Ritchie has suffered the ‘exact same injury’ as Fabian Schar did in July’s 1-3 defeat against Spurs at St James’ Park.

Since then, Schar has been sidelined for two and a half months and is still said to be a few weeks away from a full recovery – meaning Matt Ritchie is more than likely to be missing until January 2021.

Here’s what Bruce has had to say, admitting that surgery could be next following his heavy fall in yesterday’s game:

“We have got another one with Matt Ritchie doing the joint in his shoulder.

“We will see how it is but it’s not looking good.

“We don’t think it’s a dislocation…it looks as though he’s done exactly the same as Fabian Schar did, which will probably mean an operation.

“We will know more in the next couple of days.”

Ritchie may not be the first name on the team sheet he used to be, with Lewis and Fraser giving us fresh options down that left-hand side, however it’s an injury blow we could’ve done without.

We’ll have to hope it’s somehow not quite as bad as Bruce first feared, but it’s hard to see how he’ll be facing anything less than a few months out if he really has suffered the exact same injury that’s left Fabian Schar needing an operation and subsequently sidelined since mid July.

One thing’s for certain if this injury is in fact a bad one – it all but ends his chances of sealing a return to the South Coast with Bournemouth!

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About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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