Isaac Vassell endured a nightmare return to competitive action when he limped off just 25 minutes into Cardiff City's under-23s match against Watford.
Excitement was building over the player's return to action, with first-team boss Neil Harris tentatively hoping the striker would be back in senior contention within the next month or so.
But he now appears to have suffered an almighty setback.
There had been barely 25 minutes played at Leckwith when Brad Smith, Cardiff's January signing who is yet to play for the senior side, slid through Vassell for what looked to be a one-on-one with the Watford goalkeeper.
But, in sprinting for the ball, he pulled up, feeling the top and side of his leg. He has been sidelined with what we understand to be a torn quad since September and it looked like flare-up of that very area.
He subsequently pulled his shirt over his face in clear agony and limped towards Steve Morison, swiftly replaced by Isaak Davies.
Harris came from the stands to greet and console the player, who furiously hit the hurdles at Leckwith's sports park on his way down the tunnel.
Harris put his arm around the player's shoulder as they both disappeared down the tunnel.
It is another massive blow for the striker, who would have harboured hopes making a comeback sooner rather than later after a nightmare stint on the physio's bench this term.
In this, his first competitive match in around five months, he certainly looked a little rusty.
Earlier in the match, Tom Sang had fizzed a ball across the box, finding Vassell just five yards out and with an open goal in front of him.
The forward, however, completely fluffed his lines with a clean-air shot, before suffering the game-ending blow.
The guy simply can't catch a break.
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