Southampton: Pulis waiting for scan result for McQueen injury

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Tony Pulis, Manager of Middlesbrough gives his team instructions during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on October 31, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Tony Pulis, Manager of Middlesbrough gives his team instructions during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on October 31, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

The Middlesbrough manager has revealed that he is yet to know the full extent of the on-loan Southampton man’s injury.

Tony Pulis guided his Boro side to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup last night with a 1-0 win over Premier League side Crystal Palace, but it may of come at the cost of losing Sam McQueen to a serious injury.

The Saints loanee went off when the score was goalless, before Lewis Wing scored right before the end of the first half in what ended up being the only goal of the game.

The 60-year-old said last night that they were waiting on the results of a scan today to know the extent of McQueen’s injury, which appeared to be extremely painful for the young wing-back.

"“It’s a knee injury, but at this stage, we’re not really sure exactly what it is. He’ll go for a scan tomorrow. At the moment, it’s fingers crossed it’s not too serious.” – Pulis"
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Sam McQueen of Southampton in action during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Southampton and Celta Vigo at St Mary’s Stadium on August 1, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Sam McQueen of Southampton in action during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Southampton and Celta Vigo at St Mary’s Stadium on August 1, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

While we can be optimistic regarding McQueen’s setback, knee injuries are famously one of the worst a professional footballer can suffer, often setting players back up to a year if ligaments in the knee have been damaged.

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On the terrible assumption that McQueen may of suffered such a severe injury, the likelihood is is that he would return to Southampton and his loan would be terminated early, which would be a sad end to what was a promising year for the versatile man.

The 23-year-old was making his sixth appearance for Boro since his move at the tail end of August, having spent the majority of his time playing as a left-midfielder despite moving back to playing a full-back in his last couple of years with the Saints.

Pulis’ side are currently third in the table while boasting the tightest defence in the whole division – they have conceded just eight times in 15 games.

The opportunity for a potential play-off run while reaching the last eight of the Carabao Cup makes for a good season for Boro and therefore we can only hope that McQueen’s setback isn’t serious and that he can get back to playing this season.