CJ Hamilton 'devastated' to be ruled out for the remainder of Blackpool's season after undergoing surgery

The 26-year-old underwent an operation on his foot last week after breaking his metertarsal and will now play no further part in the remainder of the campaign.

The winger doesn't recall how he suffered the injury, although it's believed it occurred during Blackpool s recent goalless draw with Fleetwood Town.

Hamilton didn't report an issue on the day, but he flagged it up the following Monday on his return to training.

The blow is compounded by the news that Matty Virtue has also been ruled out for the season, having torn his ACL in the win against Oxford United.

“It’s a double whammy, because CJ has broken his fifth metatarsal. He had to have an operation in the week to pin it, so that’s his season done as well," Neil Critchley told The Gazette.

"CJ has never been injured before, so he’s been so unfortunate.

“He doesn’t remember the incident against Fleetwood. We can’t even highlight it.

“We thought he was okay, but it wasn’t settling down so we had to send him for a scan, which showed a clean crack.

“The advice was he’d have to pin it, so when you have an operation it just extends the period of time he’s going to be out.

“I’m gutted for him and he’s gutted as well because he wanted to come back and play a part after returning from a hamstring injury.

“They’re both big players for us, there’s no hiding that. So they’re both disappointed and so are we.”

Hamilton's setback comes just weeks after the former Mansfield Town had returned from a lengthy lay-off courtesy of a hamstring injury.

The rapid winger, who has been a key player for Blackpool this season, scoring five times in 25 appearances, missed almost three months of action from the Christmas period onwards.

Hamilton took to social media to reveal his disappointment.

"Devastated to be out for the rest of the season but these things happen in sport," he wrote on Twitter.

"(I'll) be backing the boys from the sidelines for the remaining games as we push for the play-offs/promotion."

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