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Birmingham City news: Steve Cotterill announces major Isaac Vassell blow
BIRMINGHAM CITY striker Isaac Vassell could miss the rest of the season through injury.
Birmingham City striker Isaac Vassell
Vassell, 24, ruptured a cruciate knee ligament in the first half of the 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday following a challenge with Alan Hutton.
The summer signing from Luton Town is set to miss at least six months.
Birmingham manager Steve Cotterill said: “It's not good for Isaac, it's not good for the club. He has ruptured a cruciate ligament.”
Vassell is scheduled to see a surgeon tomorrow, and Cotterill is refusing to blame Hutton.
He said: “I don’t think you can blame anyone, it wasn’t like it was a bone-crunching tackle, there is no blame connected to anyone at Aston Villa that has to be made clear.”
Birmingham City boss Steve Cotterill
Vassell started every game since Cotterill replaced Harry Redknapp.
And the Blues boss said: “He is a young player I was really, really working with and I think by the end of the season it would have been a good learning curve for him going on in his career.
“The learning is put back six months. It’s a real blow.”
Cotterill added: “The worst thing about it is these things always happen to the good lads. He is an absolute joy.”
Birmingham face Brentford tomorrow, and Cotterill believes his side are in for a stiff test.
He said: “They are a possession based team which is where I would like us to get in time but they are a few years ahead of us.
“It will be a difficult game we will have to do a lot of the things we have been working on effectively.”