Striker played on regardless of knee injury worries

IT WAS a season-ending injury sustained last month – yet remarkably

Ellis Harrison played on for another three matches.

Pompey have been stunned to learn the striker has damaged lateral knee ligaments.

It rules him out of incoming boss Danny Cowley’s immediate plans as he seeks to mastermind a strong finish to the campaign.

Harrison collected the injury in the second half of last month’s 1-1 draw with Gillingham, forcing him off after 59 minutes.

Regardless, he started subsequent fixtures against Doncaster and Sunderland, while appeared off the bench for 31 minutes at Northampton.

And all while carrying a serious knee injury.

Joe Gallen told The News: ‘When I heard, I phoned Ellis straight away and started laughing, I just couldn’t believe it.

‘It happened against Gillingham – and he has kept on playing, that’s the amazing thing about it.

‘We’ve had Doncaster, Northampton, Sunderland, he has continued to play.

‘It has thrown all of us really. He has mentioned it (the injury), but hasn’t necessarily complained about it too much.

‘It’s a reasonably serious injury, ruling him out for the rest of the season. It’s a big disappointment.

‘We got towards Salford with him and he said “I think I need a scan”. So we ended up getting him one.

‘That shows his determination to play.

I can't believe he’s actually played. The physio is confused how he has gone out there and been able to play at Doncaster and the rest.

‘He has played loads, it’s a surprise to all of us.’

That leaves Pompey without Harrison for the final 12 matches of the season.

But, with another year remaining on his contract, the striker will be back for the 2021-22 campaign.

Gallen added: ‘The scan results have been a surprise, but we will help him get fit and get better for the next season.

‘We could do with him now – but aren’t going to have him.’