Paul Simpson has revealed the heartbreaking news that Carlisle United midfielder Josh Dixon has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage for the third time in his young career.

The promising Cumbrian needs surgery and is facing another nine-month spell on the sidelines.

It is the latest cruel luck suffered by 21-year-old Dixon, who suffered the latest injury in a reserve game against Morecambe earlier this month.

Manager Simpson said United will give Dixon their full support as he begins the long road back to fitness again.

“We’ve had some really bad news on Josh. He has got to have a reconstruction of his ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] and he’s looking at nine months again,” said the United boss.

“The orthopaedic surgeon has decided that it does need surgery.

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“Normally they want to wait about a month to allow him to build up some quad strength to take into the surgery, and also to let the joint settle down.

“So, although I haven’t been given a date yet, we’re thinking in two/three weeks’ time he’ll probably go for surgery and then it’s the long road back.

“He seemed ok this morning when I spoke to him, [but] we’ve got to look after him, make sure he’s as mentally stable as we possibly can and he’ll need the help of his family and all of us at the club to do that.

“That’s all we can think about now. At times like this it’s not about football. It’s just making sure we look after him right.”

Dixon has endured repeated ill fortune with injuries in recent years at United.

The former academy player had to battle back from a cruciate injury during his youth team career and, after stepping into the professional ranks, had to undergo a second such setback.

The Carlisle-born player showed immense determination to fight his way back and it was a hugely rewarding moment when, on November 17, 2020, he made his professional debut for the Blues in a Papa John’s Trophy game against Aston Villa’s Under-21s.

The ball-playing midfielder has made six senior appearances in total, including a Football League debut against Stevenage last December, and has two outings to his name this season.

United will now rally round the young Cumbrian again in the hope he can once more come back from serious misfortune.

Simpson also gave an update on the injury situation ahead of Saturday’s final home game of the season against Stevenage.

He said Tobi Sho-Silva, who missed last week’s defeat at Harrogate Town, may again miss out, while Jamie Devitt may not yet be ready to return.

“Tobi’s still got a problem with his knee. He’s doubtful at the moment,” Simpson said.

“Jamie Devitt is still doubtful; he’s trained but has a little bit of a doubt.

“We need to check how Dynel [Simeu] is because he’s had a week back at home because he’s had a family bereavement – he was given some time to go down there, and he’s just got back [on Thursday] afternoon.

“I totally back that because family is really important.”

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