Mattock lift for Leicester

Defender suffers ligament damage, but ankle is not broken

Last updated: 13th August 2008

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Mattock: Injury boost

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Leicester City are optimistic Joe Mattock's ankle injury is not as serious as first feared.

Mattock was stretchered off towards the end of Tuesday's Carling Cup win over Stockport County following a heavy challenge.

The Foxes were concerned that the teenage defender had broken his ankle and could have been facing months on the sidelines.

However, though X-rays have shown up ligament damage, Mattock could return to action after an absence of several weeks.

No fracture

"Joe was carried from the field of play in a splint as a precaution and taken immediately to Leicester Royal Infirmary," Leicester boss Nigel Pearson told the club's official website.

"The tests there have fortunately revealed that there was no fracture to his left ankle.

"Joe is now back at the training ground where the medical team will continue to assess his situation.

"At the moment it looks like he has sustained serious ligament damage which will keep him out for several weeks.

"But at the moment it is certainly better than we had initially envisaged."