Cooke ruled out for season

The 21-year-old recently had a loan spell with Second Division play-off hopefuls Bournemouth curtailed as a consequence of the injury.

Cooke was willing to play through the pain-barrier but, after an attempted comeback in the club's reserves ended in agony, the player has now opted for surgery.

''I'm bitterly disappointed that my season has ended this way,'' Cooke told the club's official website. ''I missed out on valuable league action with Bournemouth because of the injury.

''It's a blow that I'll miss out on the chance to help the reserves clinch the title.

''I'm captain of the side and, after last season's disappointment, I had hoped to lift the title.

''Now I have to face six weeks on crutches and then a long hard summer trying to get back to full fitness.''