KEITA BLOW LEAVES DEEP SCARS

SCARBOROUGH Athletic’s preparations for the new season suffered a blow after winger Hassan Keita broke his leg.

Keita earned himself a deal with the Seadogs after impressing boss Steve Kittrick in pre-season.

But tragedy then struck in Tuesday night’s friendly at Northern Counties East League side Pickering Town when the exciting wide man was stopped in his tracks by a strong challenge that left him writhing in agony.

Keita had to be stretchered off with his leg in a brace and was taken to hospital where it was later confirmed he had suffered a fractured bone in his leg.

Keita, 33, once dubbed the ‘Guinean Messi’, left hospital on Thursday with a plate in his ankle.

“It’s frustrating,” a dejected Kittrick said.“Hassan is a good player who wants to play football and do the right things.

“It wasn’t a bad tackle, it was a fair challenge. He’s been a breath of fresh air around the club and it’s a real shame.

“We need strength in depth. We have that up front and in midfield, but we are just lacking a bit in defence.”

In the same game, Pickering’s former Seadogs stalwart,Tony Hackworth, also suffered a nasty injury after snapping his Achilles.

The 36-year-old, who faces months on the sidelines, was in Scarborough Hospital on Friday to have an operation to pin his Achilles back together.