Hand faces up to two months on the bench
7:00am Tuesday 13th December 2011 in Sport By Nigel McFarlane
SETBACK: Tony Hand, here in action against Sheffield Steeldogs earlier in the season, faces up to two further months out of action
EPL ICE HOCKEY:
Talismanic Manchester Phoenix head coach Tony Hand could be could be out for another two months after a gloomy prognosis on his ankle injury.
According to the club, Hand visited a specialist yesterday and was given the news that he has fractured his ankle.
Hand sustained the injury to his ankle during a home game against the Telford Tigers on November 12.
There was so much swelling after the injury, that the first x-ray did not show a fracture. With the ankle not responding, Tony went for a second x-ray and this still did not show any major problems.
Still in a lot of discomfort, the club sent him to see a specialist on Monday. After having an MRI scan, the specialist confirmed that he had a fracture near the hinge of the ankle bone.
This is another injury blow to the defending English Premier League champions who have not been able to ice with a full squad at any time this season. Losing last season’s League Most Valuable Player and top points scorer for some time is a huge setback for the club.
Coach Hand said: “The ankle did not seem to be getting any better and I went to the specialist who confirmed my fears. This is the worst injury I have had in 25 years of playing.
"I have been fortunate down the years and this is so frustrating. I will be having an operation on Thursday morning and will have a cast on for a few weeks, then hopefully start rehabilitation.
Unfortunately I will likely be out for six to eight weeks minimum. As a team we will soldier on and we are focussing all our attention on the weekend’s games against Slough and the vital League/Cup game with Milton Keynes on Sunday.”
Managing director Neil Morris said: “This has been my most difficult season in hockey, having to worry about players’ future well-being and also their current health. I have never known so many injuries happening at once. Tony and I are working hard behind the scenes to try and strengthen the squad to keep us competitive while we are short of bodies. I stand by what I said a few weeks ago; that I firmly believe that we will be up there, challenging, when we get our squad up to full fitness.”
