Power-house Ishmael Miller's Premiership dream has been cruelly cut short after the knee injury he picked up in the second-half against Portsmouth looks set to rule him out for the rest of the season. The former Manchester City striker damaged his cruciate ligament in his right knee after a collision with England goalkeeper David James.
The injury is a bitter blow for the pacy front-man who has scored four goals this season and threatened with strength and pace but now looks set to be sidelined for the best part of six to nine months.
Teammate James Morrison suffered a similar injury last season away at Coventry, and while he wasn't out for as long as Miller is expected to be, the Scottish international offered his sympathy and declared Miller has the right attitude to bounce back from the set-back.
"It's a blow," Morrison admitted.
"When you're down the bottom nothing seems to go right for you.
"But Ish is a strong character and I'm sure he'll aim to come back fitter, stronger and a better person for it.
"You get these things in your career and you have to deal with them.
"It is hard for him but he'll be alright.
"He's been doing well for us in recent weeks.
"He was just finding his feet in the Premier League and then this happens to him.
"It will give others the chance to shine like Luke Moore and Roman Bednar.
"Our aim is to make sure when he comes back we are in the Premier League.
"He's really keen to play and wants to learn all the time.
"Hopefully we can battle on and stay in the Premier League so he can have another crack at it."