Joe Riley to miss most of the season with ruptured ACL

Bolton Wanderers players and knee injuries seem to go hand in hand. A number of players over the last five years alone have missed extended periods due to knee ligament and cartilage damage, including Joey O'Brien, Sean Davis, Ricardo Gardner, Stu Holden, Mark Davies, Jussi Jaaskelainen, David Wheater, and so on. Another name that can unfortunately now be added to the list is that of young Joe Riley's, who is set to miss up to ten months after rupturing his ACL.

In a 1-0 Development Squad win at Skelmersdale United, second-half substitute Joe Riley was forced to limp off of the pitch. Riley fell somewhat innocuously (as Wheater and Mark Davies had before him) with no one around him, after turning. The young right back rolled around in pain, hitting the ground with his fist. He received treatment on the pitch before walking off with the physio, looking distraught. the club have confirmed that the injury is a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and will keep him out for months.

Riley was set to go on loan to Shrewsbury Town for the start of the season but that move was cancelled following the 21-year-old's injury. Unfortunately for Riley, this is not his first brush with an extended injury lay-off. The defender missed much of last season with a pair of foot injuries in what many had hoped would be his breakout year.