Everton News

Official: Everton defender has ‘ruptured his ankle ligaments’ and is out for the season

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Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert has confirmed that Matthew Pennington has “ruptured his ankle ligaments” and will be out for the season. The 24-year-old has made 31 appearances in all competitions since joining the Tractor Boys on loan in August. Ipswich are rock bottom of the Championship and 13 points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.

Pennington has made 173 clearances, blocked 28 shots, won 144 aerial duels with a 61% success rate, averages 44 passes-per-game with 67% accuracy and averages a tackle (52) or interception (80) every 20 minutes. The former England u19 international had impressed for Ipswich, but now his loan has been cut short.

Lambert told iFollow (h/t Ipswich’s official website): “Matt has ruptured his ankle ligaments and he won’t be playing again this season. That’s what happens when you are bottom of the table because he’s been great for us.” Pennington could have returned to the Everton first-team next season if not for his injury, as Phil Jagielka and Yerry Mina have been linked with summer exits.

If the Toffees failed to sign Kurt Zouma on a permanent deal, there would be even more space for a central defender to fill. Pennington will now spend the remainder of the campaign recovering from injury and will look to be in prime condition for pre-season in July.

He has two years remaining on his contract at Goodison Park but his future will be unknown as he’s only made nine appearances for Everton since 2016.

Read Crippy Cooke’s previous article

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.