Exciting young attacker Paul Zimarino will miss the opening stages of the new season after being diagnosed with a fractured hip.   The injury is a bitter blow for Zimarino, who had been planning to use the coming Night Series to stake his claim to a place in Michael Garcia’s line-up after breaking into the senior side at the end of 2015.

“I’m pretty gutted to miss pre-season and all of the Night Series,” Zimarino said.   “I felt the Night Series would help me show what I’ve got to offer the team and give me the chance to cement my spot in the starting eleven for the year.   It’s very disappointing to get an injury like this after working hard to break into the squad.”

2015 was a busy time for Zimarino.   After captaining Inglewood United’s youth team on their three-game Spanish tour, he rose quickly up through the clubs ranks to gain his senior debut against Armadale in mid-August.   His year was made complete by a four-week trial a Spanish club Real Valladolid, whose eye he’d caught back in April.

Unfortunately, that hectic schedule is believed to have contributed to Zimarino’s current situation.   “It’s a fractured hip, specifically a stress fracture in the hip that’s going to keep me out of the game for a while,” the attacking midfielder said.   “It’s a bit unclear how it occurred but all likelihood it’s something that has built up over time.”

“It’s a pretty long road to recovery but, as you use your hip in every movement, there’s not a lot involved – just rest and weekly physio to strengthen the quadriceps to some of the strain off the hip.   I’m aiming to get back on the park in about two to three months, and I should be back into full training and ready to go for the start of the league season.”