Glentoran have confirmed that Luke McCullough will miss the remainder of the season with a cruciate knee injury and won't return to training until next summer.
The former Manchester United U23 defender was stretchered off in a 4-0 win over Ballymena United on November 13 and subsequent scans have confirmed the club’s worst fears.
A lengthy period on the sidelines is the latest setback for McCullough who suffered multiple knee injuries with previous clubs Doncaster Rovers and Tranmere Rovers.
Glens boss Mick McDermott said: “Luke is out for the season. He has had two (cruciate) injuries on his left knee in the past and this is his right.
“Statistically, it’s actually common that when you have an injury like that in one knee, it’s a lot likelier that the other one will go.
“I’m sure Luke is feeling down, but he is an experienced player, he’s a smart lad and he knows these things unfortunately are part of football.
“He’ll get the surgery done as soon as possible and he will be back. He will be back for pre-season, hopefully by the end of July ahead of next season.”
McDermott is eager McCullough, who joined the Glens after parting company with Tranmere 18 months ago, doesn’t feel isolated from his teammates during rehab.
“We will keep him engaged and ensure he still feels part of the club,” he said.
“Bobby Burns was out for a long time (with a double leg break) last season and we asked him to do analysis for us and cut videos for us, to keep him involved with the team.
“We want to keep Luke involved and feel part of the club.”
McCullough, who was part of Michael O’Neill’s Euro 2016 squad in France, impressed at centre back last season, but had been utilised in midfield in recent weeks.
And his loss is a blow to McDermott who was contemplating playing the 27-year-old in a back three to allow summer signing Shay McCartan to slot into a No10 role in a new formation.
McCartan, who was on the bench for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crusaders at Seaview, is just back from a recent muscle injury that saw him sidelined for five weeks.
“It’s really disappointing because losing Luke changes what we were going to do and how we were going to set up as a team in the coming weeks,” said McDermott.
“He was a big part of that plan and he would have given us the ability to change our shape with three at the back and getting Shay (McCartan) in behind the forwards.
“Shay will be on the pitch, but we now have to reassess things and work on a different plan.”
