WORCESTER City have been boosted by the news Ellis Deeney has not broken his ankle.

The left-back was taken to hospital after suffering the injury in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Vauxhall Motors but X-rays have shown only a severe sprain.

Although the injury is not as bad as first feared, manager Carl Heeley is not certain when the former Aston Villa youth-team captain will be fit to return.

He said: “There’s no break which is good news, however, it’s pretty certain there is going to be ligament damage. It was very badly swollen and bruised and that can be worse than a break.

“We have got to let it settle before we can make an assessment of the damage.”

Deeney has started 36 of City’s 38 games this season and has also made one appearance as a substitute.

Heeley added: “I am quite relieved because I think we were all convinced it was a break.”