HEARTBROKEN Joe Chapman has pledged to come back stronger than before as he comes to terms with the season-ending Achilles injury suffered during another bruising weekend for the Newcastle Eagles.

Sharp-shooter Chapman will not don an Eagles vest again this season after rupturing his Achilles in Friday’s defeat of the Cheshire Jets – a major blow for both the Chicago-born forward and the reigning BBL champions, who are already without the convalescing Fab Flournoy until the end of March.

The Eagles intend to recruit a replacement for Chapman before the crucial weekend double header against Sheffield and Leicester, with former star Reggie Jackson understood to be one of the names under consideration.

Jackson remains a free agent after being released by the Eagles over the summer, and his knowledge of the plays and familiarity with the Newcastle set-up make him an ideal fit if an agreement over his personal terms can be found.

But even if that deal can be brokered, it won’t dull the disappointment of the Eagles losing one of their main offensive weapons – a player who was becoming one of Newcastle’s key men in his second season on Tyneside.

“I am upset that I’m going to miss the season – it is a big blow because I just want to be out there helping the team,” Chapman said.

“Getting injured is one of the worst things about professional sport and this is a bad injury. It just felt like someone stepped on the back of my heel – it popped and obviously I found out then that it was ruptured.