Leg break ends Partick Thistle star Jackie McNamara's season

Mar 11 2010 By Fraser Wilson

Jackie McNamara

A THOROUGHLY miserable week for Partick Thistle got even worse today when it was confirmed on-loan defender Jackie McNamara has broken his leg.

The 36-year-old Falkirk defender's season is over and he will undergo an operation on his broken tibia on Friday.

McNamara collapsed in agony after a second half collision with Ayr United's Martyn Campbell in last night's 1-0 defeat at Somerset.

Such was the force of the collision the player's shin pad was snapped in two. But it was initially unclear whether his bone had also broken or if it was just badly bruised.

However, X-rays have since confirmed McNamara's tibia is broken just below the knee. The player was released from hospital in Edinburgh on Thursday but will return for surgery on Friday.

Thistle boss Ian McCall told the Glaswegian: "Unfortunately Jackie has broken his leg, as we feared, and won't kick a ball again this season that's for sure.

"Jackie isn't the kind of player that goes to ground easily and we could tell at the time that it was a bad one.

"The better news is that it's not a serious leg break and he can expect to come back in about August as strong as ever."

McNamara's one month loan deal was due to expire next weekend although it had been expected the club's would agree a four-week extension.

That now won't be happening and the former Celtic skipper will return to Falkirk for the remainder of the season to recover from the leg break.

McNamara is expected to make the move to Thistle permanent in the summer and tae on a player-coach role at Firhill.

McCall would only say: "A decision on Jackie's future with Partick Thistle will be made in the summer."