Manchester Phoenix head coach Tony Hand won’t have the services of forward Stephen Wallace available for his this coming weekend and possibly longer, due to a worse than expected ankle injury.

Recent signing Wallace has scored nine goals in thirteen appearances for the Phoenix prior to picking up an ankle knock last Saturday in Milton Keynes. Phoenix had been hoping he would be fit to return to the line-up this coming weekend when they have a road trip to the Romford Raiders on Saturday and a vital home game against the Peterborough Phantoms at 5.30pm on Sunday at the Altrincham Ice Dome.

Speaking ahead of Friday mornings training session, player coach Tony Hand mused, “It’s a blow to our preparations as Stephen has done so well for us since signing from the Sheffield Scimitars. He was brought in to score goals and he hasn’t disappointed. Stephen has been receiving physio treatment all week, but it appears that he sustained cartilage damage and that might keep up out for another week on top of this. Stephen will continue to get treatment and we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the ankle will respond better next week.”

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