Last updated 21:13, Wednesday, 31 December 2008

TEST results have confirmed the worst fears of Workington Reds midfielder Craig Johnston.

Reds' Craig Johnston on the ball

The 25-year-old saw a specialist and was told he will definitely miss the remainder of the season and it could be 2010 before he is back playing.

Doctors at Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital told the fans’ favourite that it would be 11 months before he would be back in training and added that it would take months after to get back to full-fitness.

More worryingly for the man, known as Mr Workington by the Popularside fans, doctors could not guarantee that he would make a full recovery, leaving Johnston’s career balancing on a knife edge.

Johnston is distraught by the news but is trying to stay positive.

“It is not fun for me right now,” he said.

“I am very worried about what the future holds but I will be pushing to get myself back as soon as I can.”

It was confirmed that Johnston has snapped three of the five ligaments in his left knee; including his cruciate and lateral ligaments.

He said: “It is a horrible time for me right now. I asked the doctors if I would make a full recovery but they couldn’t give me a 100 per cent answer. I will be doing my best to get back.”

Johnston is now awaiting confirmation from the Professional Football Association for a date when he can be fit in for an operation.

His father Ian was forced to retire in the 1980s after snapping his cruciate ligament.