Jimmy Callacher out for the season with cruciate injury, says Stephen Baxter

Crusaders' Jimmy Callacher's season is over after a cruciate ligament injury

Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter has revealed that new signing Jimmy Callacher will be out for the rest of the season.

His worst fears became a reality with the news that the 32-year-old defender, who joined from Linfield over the summer, snapped his cruciate ligament in a freak incident at Newry City on August 26.

An exasperated Baxter confirmed: “Jimmy now awaits a cruciate operation; he’ll be out for a lengthy period of time. I knew that would be the case, you didn’t need to be a surgeon to know what happened on the day of the injury.

“We are so disappointed for Jimmy and his family. He’s just welcomed the birth of a new baby into his life, so we are all thrilled for him and his family. That will help lift his mood.

“Jimmy will deal with the injury, he’s a very strong character in his own mind.

“He’ll get all the best treatment. Just look how Ben Kennedy has come back after his injury last year, he was out for the entire season.

“These things happen in football, so we all wish Jimmy well.”