April 11 2002

Steve Thomson

STEVE THOMSON has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.

He cut his foot in a tackle in the first half of Sunday's game against Crewe and was replaced by Simon Rodger.

The former youth team player went to hospital after the game for emergency surgery on a split vein.

Rodger is likely to take his place in the side in the last two games of the season.

He has joined Jamie Smith, Kit Symons and Craig Harrison on the injury list, which has badly affected the latter part of the Eagles' season.

But Tony Popovic could finally make a return from his injury in Saturday's game against Preston after coming through reserve games unscathed.