CAIRNS FC TEEN BREAKS FOOT

WHAT looked like an innocuous challenge has turned into up to six weeks on the sideline for Cairns FC defender Musashi Nakagawa.

The young gun left back limped away after making a strong tackle, which resulted in his Western Pride opponent landing on him in what likely did the damage, before he was substituted in the 76th minute.

Scans later revealed Nakagawa, who bravely tried to play on, had suffered a broken metatarsal.

Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone said it was a blow for the 16-year-old, who has been a rock for the club playing every game this season.

“Unfortunately, Musashi Nakagawa our left back has broken his foot,” he said.

“He had a scan on it, an X-ray on it Sunday morning and we’re going to be missing him for about five or six weeks, which is a real shame for the young lad. He’s been doing exceptionally well.

“But it’s part and parcel of football. These things happen, so we’ve just got to deal with it.

“It was on the other side of the pitch from where I was but from the people that were over there, it was quite innocuous.

“It was a classic David Beckham metatarsal injury if you remember that one from many years ago …. It’s just unlucky.”

Graystone has a readymade replacement on the sidelines in Nathan Carr, who came on for Nakagawa on Saturday night and trained at left back in the preseason.

“We’ve also got an option to switch Shaun Owens to left back and move maybe Ryan Cavanah to right back, because he’s played there before, so there’s a couple of options I’m going to have a look at this week,” he said.

Cairns FC take on NPL newcomers Lions FC, who boast the likes of former Brisbane Roar striker Jean Carlos Solorzano and one-time Wellington Phoenix defender Josh Brindell-South.