The Blackpool striker Billy Clarke has spoken of his devastation at being ruled out for much of the coming season.
The 22-year-old ruptured a cruciate ligament during a pre-season friendly and is now likely to miss the Tangerines' first campaign in the English Premier League.
Clarke has already had an operation to repair a cartilage and will undergo full reconstructive surgery in the coming weeks.
The Irishman told the club's website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk: "The few days after I found out, you could have put me on anti-depressants and it still wouldn't have worked.
"It is heartbreaking to know that but I am not the only person it has happened to and I know I will be strong enough to come back.
"Hopefully, if it is not this season, Blackpool will stay up and I will be able to play in the Premier League another time."
Clarke suffered the injury just two minutes into Blackpool's first summer friendly against Tiverton Town on July 16.
He has set no target for a return but knows that with the new 25-man squad regulations coming into force, he may not be registered to play.
Blackpool do not currently have 25 players to register but manager Ian Holloway is trying to bolster his limited ranks before the season begins.
"In this day and age I think it is pretty much a standard operation because there have been so many of them," Clarke said.
"Without complications it is six to nine months. Hopefully I can get back as soon as I can but I don't want to rush it.
"I have had a couple of minor knee injuries and that was nothing. This is the whole hog and I am disappointed it has come at this time, but I just have to get on with it."
* PA Sport
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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Rating: 3/5
PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
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- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
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SPECS
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