IRELAND WINGER CALLUM O’Dowda faces an extended period on the sidelines after it was confirmed the ankle injury he sustained over the weekend now requires surgery.
The 22-year-old suffered the injury during Bristol City’s Championship victory over Hull City and he will go under the knife tomorrow to repair the damage.
O’Dowda said he was ‘devastated’ at the news but vowed to return stronger having established himself as a key component in Bristol’s promotion push while also working his way into Martin O’Neill’s plans.
Capped seven times at international level, O’Dowda made four appearances during the recent World Cup qualifying campaign and started the first leg of the play-off tie against Denmark.
Today’s news is a cruel blow for a player who had featured in all but one of Bristol’s 23 games this term.
“Callum will undergo a diagnostic arthroscope operation to ascertain any damage sustained in the challenge and stabilise the ankle joint,” Bristol’s head physio Steve Allen said.
“Once the surgery has taken place, we should have a clearer indication as to how long we will be without Callum for.”
O’Dowda had scored two goals and made three assists in his last seven appearances to help Bristol, managed by Lee Johnson, up to fifth in the Championship table.
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