OXFORD United striker Kevin Francis is unlikely to play again this year following an operation on what was confirmed as a ruptured Achilles tendon at a Birmingham hospital this week.

Francis, who missed most of this season with a succession of knee problems which required four different operations, sustained this latest horror injury in United's final game of the season against Stockport last Sunday.

Club physio John Clinkard said Francis would be out until at least Christmas.

"Kevin had an operation to repair the Achilles tendon and the operation was very successful," he said.

"Basically, he snapped his Achilles. He actually told me that he felt as if he had been kicked in the back of the heel which is typical of that type of injury, but there was no-one near him.

"He could not put his foot on the floor and I knew immediately that that is what he had done," Clinkard stated. Meanwhile, manager Malcolm Shotton says there has been no definitive outcome to his first phase of talks with the club's new owner Firoz Kassam, which took place yesterday.

Shotton is waiting to hear what budget he will have for next season and wants to know that the club will be in a position to go forward before he fully commits himself.

He has been waiting to move his family down from their home near Huddersfield, but has put that on hold until he learns the full extent of Kassam's plans.

Story date: Thursday 13 May

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