Rare foot infection rules Shorey out for season

By Mark Sugar
March 26 2004

A very rare foot infection has ruled star left back Nicky Shorey out for the rest of the season adding more injury problems to manager Steve Coppell.The infection called "osteomyelitis" means Shorey will miss the promotion run in as the Royals look to secure Premiership football.

The loss of Nicky Shorey could be the final nail in the coffin for Reading's promotion season which gets less and less likely as the days go by. There is no doubt how crucial Shorey is.

Signed by Alan Pardew in 2000, Shorey was a signing that raised a few eye brows. Nicky who was the question most Royals supporters asked as they had no idea who he was. But Shorey began to develop and by the middle of November Shorey was piling pressure on the left back role that was being held by Matt Robinson. Then in the 4th Round Worthington Cup tie at Aston Villa, Shorey was handed a 1st team start. After a very solid performance, Shorey cemented his place and since then he has been the Royals number 1 left back.

Shorey has amassed over 100 games under the Alan Pardew reign and when Steve Coppell stepped in after Pardew left to West Ham, Coppell knew why Pardew had been raving about Shorey. At a cost of £100,000 in total, he has proved brilliant value for money.

Shorey has a total of 4 goals with the latest coming in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United.

Shorey's injury is very rare according to club physio Jon Fearn. Speaking on the injury, Fearn said

"Unfortunately Nicky's out for the season. He's had an MRI scan which showed the infection in the bone of his left foot. It's a condition called osteomyelitis, and he needs rest and antibiotics for 6 weeks. It's a very rare condition. I have come across it before but not in a footballing environment. It usually follows a trauma or a wound. Bacteria has got into Nicky's system somehow but we can't be exactly sure where it came from, and we may never know. He's been treated very early which is good. He has been treated very early which is good because this condition can get serious."

Coppell moved very quickly to secure the loan signing of Dean Gordon, a left back from Coventry who wasn't getting 1st team football. He isn't allowed to feature in the clash tomorrow between the 2 sides but should be in line to make his debut against West Ham United.

We wish Nicky a very quick recovery!