ELLIS Deeney could miss the rest of Worcester City’s season after suffering a suspected broken leg and ankle.

The left-back was taken to hospital following a first-half challenge by Steven Wainwright in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Vauxhall Motors.

City, who have 10 games remaining this season, are waiting on the outcome of X-rays but expect to be without the former Aston Villa youth team captain for a while.

“If there’s a break, he certainly won’t play again this season. We’ll have to wait and see what the prognosis is but none of us are that optimistic,” said manager Carl Heeley.

“I am gutted for Ellis and fingers crossed for him. We are all thinking about him. He’s played a lot of games and done well for us so we’re just all hoping the injury is not too bad.”

Wainwright was also hurt in the incident but Heeley criticised referee Andy Hendley for his handling of the situation.

The Worcester boss said: “I am not impressed with the referee. It was a poor tackle and there was one on Michael Taylor that was clearly a two-footed challenge as well.

“Quite frankly, I don’t know what he saw and he might have an opinion but there’s no debating those tackles. They were shocking.”

Deeney, 21, is the latest addition to a lengthy casualty list which also includes fellow defender Jacob Rowe (knee), striker Mike Symons (ankle) and winger Danny Edwards (ankle).

Symons is improving and took part in some light training this weekend but is still doubtful for Saturday’s match against Boston United at St George’s Lane.

City, however, have secured free-agent midfielder Ashley Sammons until the end of the season following his return from a trial with Chesterfield.

Sammons, who has been with the League Two side since making his Worcester debut on New Year’s Day, started his second match for the club against the Motormen.

Heeley said: “He’s been up at Chesterfield on trial and something may happen there for him in the summer. He bossed the game at Vauxhall Motors, got on the ball, kept things going for us and did well.”

Further recruitment has not been ruled out, particularly given the injury situation, but the City boss admits it is proving tricky because clubs are reluctant to loan players at this stage of the season.