BLACKPOOL’S Blackburn-born striker Louis Almond has been ruled out for up to three months with a dislocated shoulder.

The 18-year-old product of Mill Hill FC, who had a spell on loan at Cheltenham last season, is to have an operation after suffering the injury against Leyton Orient in Saturday’s pre-season clash in Devon.

And in a further blow for the Seasiders, striker Billy Clarke could miss the whole of Blackpool’s first Premier League campaign with a knee injury.

The 22-year-old has been ruled out until April at the earliest after rupturing a cruciate ligament during pre-season.

Clarke was injured just two minutes into Blackpool’s first friendly against Tiverton on July 16 and it was initially thought he would be out for three months.

However, the problem is worst than first feared and the player has now undergone surgery.

Manager Ian Holloway said: “It might be the whole season now.

“He was looking so sharp in training and had done so much in the summer to try and get over the knocks he had last year.”

The injuries further reduce Holloway’s options in an increasingly threadbare squad.

Holloway is yet to sign a player this summer.