Young midfielder could return to parent club after suffering ankle injury.

Steve Davis is confident that Liam Smith will come back stronger after suffering an untimely injury in pre-season. Smith was injured in Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers and a scan revealed that the on-loan Newcastle United midfielder has suffered extensive bone bruising around the ankle.

Although it is difficult to place a time span on his recovery time, the two clubs are in discussion about the promising youngster returning to Newcastle for the initial part of his rehabilitation.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “It is always a blow to lose any player through injury but it happens. The good news is that was no fracture or ligament damage but he has suffered extensive bruising on the bone and that is difficult to be a time span on.

“He cannot do anything for a week or ten days and then we will assess where he is again. We will see if he is then able to load on it again.

 “Our physio Rob Sharp is in discussions with Newcastle about him possibly going back there for his initial treatment. The medical staff at Newcastle know his body and it is sometimes better for an injured player to be in comfortable surroundings and around his family. It could be the best place for him to be.”