Michael Appleton has confirmed 23-year-old Lewis Montsma is set to miss nine months with an ACL injury.
Montsma went down in the first half of our 2-0 win against Oxford United this weekend, and after a lengthy spell on the floor, which included apparently being given oxygen, he hobbled off. Everyone in the ground could see it was a serious one, but Michael confirmed in today’s press conference that it is as bad as feared; an ACL injury which means nine months out of action. He certainly won’t play again this season, and will be unlikely to make the start of the 2022/23 campaign either.
For those who do not know, an ACL injury is a tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is one of the strong bands of tissue that help to connect your femur to your tibia (thigh bone to shin bone). ACL injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops or changes in direction, or jumping and landing. Lewis said he had a pop after seemingly getting his studs caught in the turf, and that’s consistent with the ACL; many people hear a pop or feel a “popping” sensation in the knee when an ACL injury occurs.
It’s a huge blow for the Dutchman, who some feared would be the subject of transfer speculation over the coming weeks. He was a sensation after arriving from Dordrecht last season, scoring nine goals in 50 appearances, include six in League One. Goals against Swindon, Blackpool and Crewe were all winning goals, whilst he also popped up with strikes against Rochdale and Charlton in games we won.
This season an injury ruled him out early, and he made his first league start as we went down 3-1 at Oxford in late August. He scored his first goal of the season in the EFL Trophy defeat at home against Sunderland, as well as netting the Imps first goal at Hillsborough in more than 40 years as we drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday. His injury means he is now the third of our three regular centre backs on the treatment table; Adam Jackson is currently ruled out by concussion protocols after sustaining a second head injury of the season against Crewe, whilst Joe Walsh has only managed three appearances either side of quad injuries this season.
All at the Stacey West wish Lewis a speedy recovery, and we look forward to seeing him back in the red and white of the Imps before we’re unwrapping Christmas presents at the end of the year.
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