A Wrexham midfielder was rushed to a local hospital in Australia after the Championship side’s second match on their pre-season tour.
The Dragons, who finished second in League One last season to earn promotion, were beaten 2-1 by A-League side Sydney FC on Tuesday morning.
Wrexham opened the scoring when Corey Hollman turned James McClean’s wicked delivery into his own net, but his blushes were spared by Alexandar Popovic and Joe Lacey, who turned the game around for the home side.
If the result was not bad enough for the Hollywood-owned club, key midfielder Ollie Rathbone was forced off through injury just before half-time.
The 28-year-old landed awkwardly on his left ankle and could be seen on the floor in major discomfort, before managing to hobble off the pitch, aided by medical staff.
And now Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Rathbone has been taken to hospital in order to undergo an X-ray to assess the extent of the damage.
Ollie Rathbone landed awkwardly on his ankle during Wrexham’s 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC
Dragons boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Rathbone was taken to hospital after the loss
Wrexham have just one more game left to play on their tour of Australia and New Zealand
Rathbone was a key part of Parkinson’s squad as they secured promotion last season, featuring a total of 41 times in League One.
While he is known for his ability to break up play in the middle of the park, due to his remarkable work rate, the midfielder also pitched in at the top of the pitch, scoring eight goals and providing two assists last term.
Wrexham will start their Championship season on the road at Southampton in just over three weeks’ time, and Parkinson will have his fingers crossed that Rathbone has not done any significant damage that will rule him out of that fixture.
The Welsh side will now travel to New Zealand for the final match of their pre-season tour, where they will face Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium.
