Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles has "a lot of pain" after sustaining a shoulder injury, according to Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles has "a lot of pain" after sustaining a shoulder injury, according to Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen.
A tearful Charles was forced off an hour into Wednesday's FA Cup defeat by Brentford after an impressive performance against the Premier League side.
The 20-year-old missed the opening four months of the season with an injury to his right shoulder, and he also missed all of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers.
If his injury is serious then he could be a doubt for March's World Cup play-off in Italy.
"Right now we don't know (the extent of the injury), " Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.
"He has a lot of pain, so let's see. He'll maybe go for a scan and then we will know more."
Charles had established himself as first choice for both club and country and, after returning for Wednesday, was tipped to return between the posts for the crucial World Cup qualifier in Bergamo.
Pedersen said it was "awful" for Charles after he spent four months sidelined with a similar injury to his right shoulder at the start of the season.
The goalkeeper had pulled off good saves from Keane Lewis-Potter, Mathias Jensen and Romelle Donovan before he was forced off.
"He is such an important part of our way of playing, both defensively and offensively.
"How he had played since he came back was fantastic. It's so sad if it's another injury which would keep him out for weeks or longer.
"I really hope the best for him, he deserves it."
Northern Ireland could also be without key defender Conor Bradley after he was forced off in Liverpool's goalless draw with Arsenal with a knee injury on Thursday.
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Category: General Sports
