YOUNG Blackburn Rovers striker Anton Forrester has been assured he could not be in better hands after sustaining a serious knee injury which could rule him out for the rest of the year.

The 20-year-old is facing up to nine months on the sidelines after being on the end of a strong challenge in Bury’s 2-2 League Two draw at home to Fleetwood Town last Tuesday.

Forrester, who was set to spend the rest of the season on loan at the Shakers, has since returned to Rovers to begin his rehabilitation.

And disappointed Bury boss David Flitcroft has told the former Everton frontman that is the best place for him.

“Anton is in a bad way”, said Flitcroft, who is the younger brother of former Rovers midfielder and now Chorley manager Garry Flitcroft.

“When I saw the tackle, I saw a bad challenge. “He’s rolled him and you can tell when it’s a nasty tackle. I don’t think there was any intent in the challenge but it was certainly a nasty tackle and the way he has rotated on his knee, he has done his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and his MCL (Medial Cruciate Ligament), so now he will be out for between six and nine months.

“I’ve spoken to Anton and he’s a young lad that is trying to make his way in the game but the saving grace in this is that Blackburn Rovers have one of the best physios in the country in Dave Fevre and they have all the right equipment. Anton could not be in better hands.

“Now we just wish him well, he’s phoned all the lads and sent them texts. The lad is gutted because he wanted to be a part of this until the end of the season. “He has to have a real belief now and from the club we all wish him well and thank him for what he has done for us, his goals have been very important to us.”