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Festy Ebosele (front) in action for Watford on Tuesday night. Alamy Stock Photo

Injury blow for Festy Ebosele as Watford fear minimum three-month layoff

Ankle damage would rule winger out of Republic of Ireland’s Nations League promotion/relegation playoff in March.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND international Festy Ebosele faces the possibility of at least three months out after suffering an ankle injury on club duty this week.

Watford boss Tom Cleverley confirmed his concerns after the 22-year-old was forced off in Tuesday’s defeat to Preston North End early in the second half.

It could also be a major blow for international manager Heimir Hallgrímsson ahead of March’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-off with Bulgaria.

Ebosele has emerged as an important player on the right wing and with Chiedozie Ogbene ruled out for the remainder of the season it is set to limit Hallgrímsson’s options further.

Cleverley revealed that initial scans on the injury are similar to that of teammate Dan Bachmann, who suffered ankle ligament damage earlier this month.

“Festy is not good news either, and one that we thought might not be so serious,” Cleverley said on Watford’s website.

“There was more than one occasion on Tuesday when Preston recovered possession with tackles coming in from behind that made contact with the player as well as the ball – not just the Festy one, but on James Abankwah as well which led to their first goal.

“Festy’s injury looks a lot like Dan Bachmann’s from our initial scans, but again we’ll assess further and go from there.”

Cleverley said that Abankwah “set a high bar” with his debut performance away to Derby County last weekend but came “back down to earth with a bit of a bang [against Preston]. Hopefully that doesn’t dent his confidence too much. That’s the Championship though. No challenge is ever the same.”

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    Mute cardboardshinguards
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    Nov 10th 2011, 7:43 PM

    Guys the article is not attempting to be a comprehensive treatise on the finances of any one club. It is merely a look at the importance of location given the changing demographics of Dublin. I should also add I’m a blogger not a journalist and as a result the time I can give to fact checking is limited and I am happy to accept corrections through comments. Mea culpa on the Harristown issue.

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    Mute ShaneGK
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    Nov 10th 2011, 6:12 PM

    Facts Lee!….. Evening Herald quality…a fate only avoided by Shamrock Rovers!!!first league win in 21st Century only 2 seasons ago….omitted massive tax write off…the role of SDCC!

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    Mute David Connolly
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    Nov 10th 2011, 5:50 PM

    Lee please get your facts straight before stating things,journalism like this is the reason people don’t know real facts. Rovers rent a ground in tallaght, Rovers had a 96% write off of all there debt when relegated, Bohs proposed move was to Harristown just beside the airport. The only reason Bohs haven’t moved is due to Liam Carroll being in Nama and having no funds to finish the deal.

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    Mute Martin Wilson
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    Nov 10th 2011, 4:59 PM

    Ah the memories! These were exciting times. Now we are extremely lucky to be still housed in Tolka. Word is both clubs will ground share Tolka next year. But where both clubs will be in 0-5 years? Lord knows.

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    Mute Martin Mc Cormack
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    Nov 11th 2011, 7:40 PM

    The LOI and And FAI is inundated by a shower of grubby opportunist shady businessmen, (usually with thatch or comb overs) . Success on the field is normally followed by bankruptcy,Milltown, Flower lodge etc etc… markets field, kilcohan etc.. Sligo seem to be on the right track..

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