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Izzy Brown’s season started with a hamstring injury and it ends with a knee injury after just 15 appearances (and just 400 minutes of action) for Brighton & Hove Albion. The Premier League outfit confirmed the injury this morning, with the young forward returning to Chelsea for treatment, surgery, and a long recovery.
“It’s one we didn’t expect. It’s really disappointing news for all concerned, but obviously more for Izzy than anyone else.
”He’s a young lad who has made a really good impression at the club and in the second half of the season he would have played more games. It’s still very fresh for everyone, but we are grateful to Chelsea for the loan, and to Izzy for the impact he has made during the first half of the season.”
-Chris Hughton; source: Brighton & Hove Albion
Brown started just 6 times for the Seagulls, the last of which was Monday night’s FA Cup third round derby against Crystal Palace. But after an early collision with Jeff Schlupp, the 21-year-old — he has just celebrated his birthday the night before! — was forced off in the 6th minute with what looked like a scary knee problem (lots of twisting motion in the coming together). Schlupp was forced off a few minutes later as well when he couldn’t continue either.
Schlupp has since been ruled out with ankle injury, but the news is even worse for Brown, who now faces 9-12 months out with the ACL injury itself, though as we know, full recovery can often take even longer.
ACL injuries are a common part of the sport, and while they are no longer career-ending as they once were, they’re still significant events that can often have career-altering effects (sometimes for the better, like in Azpilicueta’s case!).
Either way, terrible news for Izzy. Stay strong and good luck with rehab!