Big blow for Orient boss over Gray injury

3:49pm Monday 1st September 2008

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ORIENT boss Martin Ling has revealed his sadness at the news that striker Wayne Gray has damaged his cruciate knee ligament.

The former Wimbledon frontman faces around six-months on the sidelines following an awkward fall during the match with Carlisle last weekend.

But Ling was quick to dismiss any connection with the medial ligament injury Gray sustained in the same knee during the final game of last season.

He said: “This is devastating news because Wayne had worked so hard over the summer to get back to playing.

“Of course as there was nobody around him when he went over our first thought's was it related to his previous injury.

“As a manager you do question whether you have brought him back too soon, but according to the medical people the injuries aren't related.

“They have told us that we had done everything right with his rehabilitation, and because Wayne wasn't feeling any pain in his knee they said that we had not rushed him back too soon either.

“So it appears as if it is just one of those freak things, although I really do feel for the lad because he is likely to miss the majority of the season now.

“For us that is a major blow because he is a big part of my plans, and while we brought in Dean Morgan the other week who can play up front as well as on either wing, I am now looking to fetch in one more striker.

“I have put in an offer in for one player, but that doesn't look like it will be accepted and it will be a case of looking at other targets before the window closes tonight.

“If that doesn't bear any fruition it will have to look at the loan market, which shuts next week.

“I'm not moving on that front just yet though, because it is best to let the dust settle first on the permanent market.

“That is because if a club brings in a striker, others will drop down the pecking order and there is a chance you can get one of these in.”