Fulham wing-back Marlon Fossey, on loan at Bolton, has played the final game of his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers after being ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
The American wing-back joined the Trotters during the January transfer window from Fulham and had been a revelation under Ian Evatt in a 3-5-2 system.
Fossey scored his first professional goal in an away victory at Oxford United and had also notched five League One assists for Bolton in his 15 appearances.
Disaster struck in the 1-0 home defeat against Plymouth Argyle last weekend though as the 23-year-old had to be taken off the pitch injured in the final minutes with a knee injury.
And whilst Evatt was hopeful that the problem would be nothing too serious, it has emerged that Fossey has suffered a torn meniscus after pictures this week circulated of the defender wearing a knee brace.
It means that unless Bolton can secure a deal to bring Fossey back for the 2022-23 season – whether that be a loan move or a permanent one – then the Fulham man may have played his final game for the club in a short but productive spell.
In his brief time at the University of Bolton Stadium, Fossey was pretty influential down that right flank for the club.
If the Trotters were still realistically in the running for the play-offs though then this injury blow would definitely sting a bit more for Evatt and co.
They now trail sixth-placed Sunderland by 11 points, which means that barring a miracle they will not be making it to the end of season lottery.
The club though will be hoping that Fossey can return for the 2022-23 campaign – and with the moves that Bolton made in January there’s no reason why they can’t potentially secure a full-time deal for the American, which is definitely something that they’ll want to make happen.