Injury woe for Kerrigan
TUBBERCURRY’S Liam Kerrigan has had his aspiring career in Serie B put on hold because of a knee injury that has ended his first season with Como 1907, a club in northern Italy.
The winger, 22, tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) at training last week. This setback forced him to miss last Saturday’s Serie B fixture for Como – a 3-3 home draw with SPAL – and he subsequently revealed, via a message on the Como social media feed, that he faces a length spell recovering from this injury. The attacker could be out of action for up to nine months – one of the big games he will miss comes at international level as he has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland U-21 men’s squad for the first leg of their UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off against Israel at Tallaght Stadium. The first Sligo man to play in Italy’s Serie B, Kerrigan had been making an impact with Como.
He scored on his Serie B debut against Pisa netting as a substitute in the 77th minute. He also featured for Como in the Coppa Italia.
The former Sligo Rovers and UCD player, who started out as a kid with Real Tubber, made further appearances in Serie B – last month he was a second-half substitute against Brescia and earlier this month he made his first start when he was picked to play against Frosinone. This was followed by a start against Sudtirol on the Saturday before last.
“Although this [injury] is a massive blow for me, I am so grateful that I have a club like this behind me. I know they will do everything they can to get me back playing again and are already doing so,” said Kerrigan.
“As much as I would love that to be in a few weeks, I know I have to be patient and recover, get strong again.”
He continued: “My Serie B debut was such a massive moment, that goal [against Pisa] is etched in my memory.
“I know we have not had the start we wanted but I know the team has what it takes to turn our fortunes around.”
Kerrigan, pictured, has received messages of support from his former club, Sligo Rovers, and his team-mate, former Spanish international midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who starred at Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea. Como’s results have been less than impressive – three draws and three losses from their opening six games in Serie B – and they now have a new first team coach, Moreno Longo. They are currently second from bottom in Italy’s 20-team second tier, one point above bottom of the table Pisa.