Workington Reds have confirmed that promising forward Ash Kelly has suffered a devastating injury setback.

A post on the club's official website said that the young striker, who had been sidelined by an ACL injury suffered last year, has been told his career may already be over.

The post said: "A career which promised so much a year ago appears to be over before it actually got going.

"Ash Kelly has been out of the Reds first team picture for the past 12 months and it now appears that his original ACL injury has not made any significant progress and he has been advised not to pursue his career."

Kelly signed for the club shortly after the arrival of manager Danny Grainger and made an impression in pre-season, scoring against his former club in the process.

The 25-year-old went on to make league and cup appearances for the club and was just building some momentum in the first team with a glut of goals against Marske United, Moor Row and Droylsden in October when the cruel nature of football saw him injured and relegated to the treatment room.

The local player now looks unlikely to fulfil his potential given the diagnosis, although the club noted that he is set to undergo another operation later this month.

Reds are still waiting to hear when they will be able to resume after lockdown.