JAMIE Glen’s season could be over after the Newcastle Eagles prospect suffered a fresh injury setback.
Glen has been told he needs an operation on a bone spur in his ankle which would rule him out for four months – effectively ending an injury-jinxed campaign for the Bolton-born forward.
The Eagles are now assessing his next step, but the prevailing medical opinion is it would be too risky for him to return to the court.
Eagles chief Paul Blake said: “The doctors are telling us that arguably he could take a risk and play on the ankle but it could make him worse.
“He probably needs an operation and if he has that operation we are looking at a four or five-month lay-off – effectively the rest of the season really.
“We will be talking over the course of the week to Jamie and we will decide what course we are going to take, but it is important the decision is the right one.
“With the ankle, it has not been right really and it has not gone away since the start of the season, so the sensible option may be to act now and try and resolve it for next year.”
It is a particularly tough break for Glen, who was hoping this would be his breakthrough year at the Eagles after a string of fine cameos last year.
However, his persistent ankle problem means he has had to watch while others get to stake their claim. Blake added: “It is hard for Jamie and I feel sorry for him in a way.
“I think Fab (Flournoy) certainly had it in his thoughts that he was going to get him in the rotation this season because he has shown a few times he is capable of playing.
“It has been frustrating for him that he is not been able to do that, and I think Fab saw him as an option as well.”
While Glen’s injury is a blow for the Eagles, their sparkling recent form has been the perfect New Year tonic.
Six straight wins – the latest of which was a crushing defeat of Leicester Riders on Friday – have taken them into third in the BBL standings and, combined with the Mersey Tigers’ recent blip, there is a feeling the season is opening up for the reigning champions.
He said: “We have put together a good run at a decent time and the guys are certainly responding.
“The Tigers lost the BBL Cup on Sunday and I think that just goes to show how open things are this year.
“Anyone can beat anyone and if you don’t start well you are liable to get blown away. I think with the greatest of respect, that is maybe what happened to us on the two occasions that we went to theirs.
“Those will certainly will be big games for us.”
Meanwhile, Blake admits he will be “disappointed” if basketball fan Darren Bent leaves Sunderland.
The Black Cats forward has helped raise the profile of the game since joining Steve Bruce’s side, and has watched and trained with the Eagles several times since moving to Sunderland in 2009.
Now he looks set to move on after handing in a transfer request.
Blake said: “As a club which represents the whole of the region with supporters all over the North East, it would be a big loss if Darren left.
“He regularly came to watch games and he was a big fan of the NBA as well, so it was an asset for us to have someone like that on the patch. We wish him all the best if he does leave.”
