Croft & Margetson Suffer Injury Blows

Major Injury
By Chris O'Brien
September 22 2004

Gary Croft and Martyn Margetson have both suffered major knee injuries, which will see the sidelined for some time. Margetson could be out for as long as two months, whilst Croft is expected to be unavailable for half a year following surgery to knee ligaments.

Cardiff City have been hit by two major injury blows. Goalkeeper Martyn Margetson and defender Gary Croft are both facing long lay-offs on the sidelines as the Bluebirds look to improve on a woeful start to the Football League Championship.

The versatile Croft could we have had his City career ended by a horrific knee ligament injury. The former Ipswich Town full-back is likely to be out of action for at least six months as he recovers from an operation to repair cruciate knee ligaments performed in a London hospital. The signing of David Williams from Sunderland has added another defender to the squad, and with Croft's contract expiring at the end of the season it's disappointing to say that he may not be a Bluebird next season.

Margetson's injury is less serious, but the solid shot stopper is expected to be out for two months. It will be frustrating for Margetson, who is also suffering with knee problems, because he had looked set to claim back the number one slot away from Tony Warner. The door is now back open for Neil Alexander, who impressed at Milton Keynes on the weekend, and the Scotsman could have some sort of a future at the club.

Meanwhile, defensive duo Rhys Weston and Robert Page are both suffering with injuries, whilst youngster Stuart Fleetwood and Jamaican international Richard Langley are both visiting the treatment room. John Robinson is also unavailable for selection due to family illness, meaning Lawrence will pick a threadbare side for the trip to Molineux to face promotion hopefuls Wolves on Saturday.