Shropshire Star

Wolves defender Kristian Kostrna suffers broken leg

Young Wolves defender Kristian Kostrna is to undergo surgery after breaking his leg whilst on international duty with the Slovakia under-21 team.

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The 19-year old sustained the injury during an away fixture in Portugal, a double fracture which is similar to that suffered by George Elokobi on the first game of his loan spell with Bristol City back in September.

Now back in Wolverhampton, Kostrna has undergone a Computerised Tomography scan which has revealed the need for an operation, ahead of an estimated eight months on the sidelines.

Wolves' head EDS physio Jazz Sodhi said: "From the video footage of the game we can see Kristian sliding across to intercept a cross, and his studs seem to have got stuck in the grass whilst he went over on it.

"It's one of those that seems quite innocuous at the time but turned out to be very serious - a broken distal tibia and fibula, the two bones in the shin.

"It is a similar type of injury to George, in the lower part by the ankle, although one of the fractures is more extensive.

"He was seen in Portugal and a decision was made by Wolves medical staff, with the approval of the Slovakian medics, that we would fly him to back to the United Kingdom and get him seen by the ankle specialist who operated on George.

"We've been to see James Calder in London who has looked at the scans and we are now waiting for the joint swelling to settle and a further scan, before he has surgery next Tuesday.

"Kristian is at present recuperating in digs and is comfortable. It is never easy to predict recovery times, especially prior to surgery, but it is the sort of injury where you are probably looking at an initial expectation of eight months out."

Kostrna, who has also played on the right of midfield, is a regular in the Wolves under-21 side, who play most of their home games at AFC Telford United's New Bucks Head.

The full-back is also a fixture at international level and has also featured in several friendlies for the first-team.

Sodhi has revealed he is already taking a positive attitude towards the long road to rehabilitation.

He said: "At the moment, Kristian seems quite positive. He knows he has seen the best consultant we could find and is happy with the medical side of things and is feeling optimistic about his recovery.

"He's already talking about getting back stronger and fitter than he ever was before. We have discussed that there will be ups and downs but we have things in place.

"He will be able to speak to our sports psychologist and, not to forget, big George will be at hand to show him the road to recovery.

"Once he has had his operation, he will be resting for a period of time and will also be given the opportunity to go home and spend some time with his family in Slovakia."

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