Brendan Rodgers Fumes at Tackle that has Left Teenager Will Alves Facing Months Out
- last year
Brendan Rodgers has raged at a challenge that has left one of Leicester City's brightest prospects facing the best part of a year on the sidelines.
Will Alves, who the night before had come on for the first team in their 3-0 win away at MK Dons in the Carabao Cup, was on the receiving end of a brutal lunge from Wolves youth team player Caden Voice.
His teammates realized the severity of the incident immediately as they ran in to confront the Wolves player. His leg appeared to almost do a stamping motion down on Alves' knee.
The 17-year-old took to Instagram to confirm the worst fears of those connected to the club that he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury as a result of the challenge.
'A week full of ups and downs, devastated to announce that I have torn my ACL,' he said.
'I will give everything to get back on the pitch to do what I love the most. I’ll be back stronger.'
Rodgers, meanwhile, was more scathing in his assessment of the situation - declaring the challenge 'one of the worst' he's seen in his career.
'It’s a sad one for us,' Rodgers said. 'We lost one of our young talents, Will Alves, who came on in the MK Dons game.
'He wanted to play in the Youth Cup game the night after and played in that. They went through in the tie, our Under-18s, but he was taken out with one of the worst challenges I’ve seen on a football field.
'It’s such a shame for a young player who’s 17, who’s making his way in the game and making his mark in training and the way he’s been.
'It’s a real disappointing one for us. We wish him a speedy recovery in getting back. It’ll be the rest of the season he’ll be out for.
'His rehab will start over these next few weeks and he’ll have an operation after that.'
ACL injuries are notoriously difficult to overcome, with the path back to a level somewhat resembling that of where you were at a long and arduous one.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, himself a product of Leicester's academy, offered support to the devastated youngster, saying his support was there should it be needed.
'Get well soon mate. Support here if you need it,' he said.
Meanwhile, Alves' youth teammates said Voice deserved more than the red card punishment he was dished out.
Will Alves, who the night before had come on for the first team in their 3-0 win away at MK Dons in the Carabao Cup, was on the receiving end of a brutal lunge from Wolves youth team player Caden Voice.
His teammates realized the severity of the incident immediately as they ran in to confront the Wolves player. His leg appeared to almost do a stamping motion down on Alves' knee.
The 17-year-old took to Instagram to confirm the worst fears of those connected to the club that he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury as a result of the challenge.
'A week full of ups and downs, devastated to announce that I have torn my ACL,' he said.
'I will give everything to get back on the pitch to do what I love the most. I’ll be back stronger.'
Rodgers, meanwhile, was more scathing in his assessment of the situation - declaring the challenge 'one of the worst' he's seen in his career.
'It’s a sad one for us,' Rodgers said. 'We lost one of our young talents, Will Alves, who came on in the MK Dons game.
'He wanted to play in the Youth Cup game the night after and played in that. They went through in the tie, our Under-18s, but he was taken out with one of the worst challenges I’ve seen on a football field.
'It’s such a shame for a young player who’s 17, who’s making his way in the game and making his mark in training and the way he’s been.
'It’s a real disappointing one for us. We wish him a speedy recovery in getting back. It’ll be the rest of the season he’ll be out for.
'His rehab will start over these next few weeks and he’ll have an operation after that.'
ACL injuries are notoriously difficult to overcome, with the path back to a level somewhat resembling that of where you were at a long and arduous one.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, himself a product of Leicester's academy, offered support to the devastated youngster, saying his support was there should it be needed.
'Get well soon mate. Support here if you need it,' he said.
Meanwhile, Alves' youth teammates said Voice deserved more than the red card punishment he was dished out.