BILLY Bodin says Alex Gorrin’s professionalism will benefit the midfielder as he recovers from his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Former Preston North End man Bodin is well placed to support his teammate having suffered the injury twice before.

The 29-year-old missed the whole of the 2018/19 season for Preston after his studs got caught while doing a stepover during a training session, just days before the start of the season.

That was the second time Bodin had been blighted with an ACL injury, and he immediately knew Gorrin had done the same during the Emirates FA Cup clash at home to Bristol Rovers.

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Bodin said: “I didn’t want to say it on the pitch on the day.

“Straight away I said to the physio that’s pretty much how I did it, but I didn’t want to say it to him until he got the scan results.

“It’s never nice knowing that you’re going to be out for six to 12 months.

“It’s horrible but I’ve told him all about it and he’ll be back in no time if you do everything right, which I know he will.

“He’s a great pro, always in early doing stuff in the gym.

“I’m gutted for him, but it seems to be quite a common injury nowadays.”

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk suffered an ACL injury and missed the majority of last season following a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the Merseyside derby.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo, Roy Keane, Alan Shearer and Ruud van Nistelrooy are among those to have spent significant time out with the injury.

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Bodin said: “When I first did it, I didn’t know what an ACL was.

“Then talking to teammates, they told me it’s quite a bad one.

“Alan Shearer did it years ago, Ronaldo obviously and people had to retire from it.

“Nowadays, the technology and the operations are so much more advanced that you can get back.

“My first one, I was back after seven months.

“I told Alex all of this, he’s always quite positive so hopefully he can do his rehab well and we’ll see him back soon.”

Earlier this month, U’s boss Karl Robinson said the club will be sitting down with Gorrin to discuss his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

Robinson said: “To lose him for the foreseeable future, we all know how long them injuries can take and it’s a massive blow, not only for us but to him as well.

“We will be sitting down, his contract’s up in the summer and we’ll have a look at that, to give him something to fight for and look forward to.

“He is our holding destroyer so it’s a big loss but it’s a part of the football league season, you have to cope with all these things that go for you and against you.”

Bodin feels Gorrin has proven his importance to the side and that the Spaniard warrants a new deal with the U’s.

He said: “It’s tough, especially when your contract’s coming to an end.

“He’s done well this season so hopefully he can get a new contract here, but it’s always a tricky one, especially that sort of injury when you’re out for quite a lengthy period.”