A shame, he might have had a fair shout for a place........ Closey Rory Delap is "absolutely sick" after scans revealed the Southampton star has two knee ligament tears which could keep him out for six weeks. Delap limped off after just 28 minutes of Saints' 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win over Norwich on Saturday after damaging the medial ligaments in his left knee in a 50-50 challenge with Canaries striker David Nielsen. The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international underwent a scan on Monday and the results have come as a major blow for the player, who had only just recovered from a calf strain which had kept him out for two and a half weeks. Delap will definitely miss next month's FA Cup quarter-final home tie against Wolves but might just be back for the semis if Saints make it. Physio Jim Joyce said: "Rory has a partial tear which won't require surgery but we expect him to be out for a minimum of a month, maybe a bit longer. We will have to see how it goes." Delap said: "It's bitterly disappointing - I'm absolutely sick. The doctors said six weeks although it might be slightly earlier if I heal quickly. "But I have to accept it could take six weeks which would be around the date of the semi-final if we get through. It's a decent draw and I'm just hoping the lads win through for me. "It was very unlucky really. He caught me with a block tackle and we both connected with the ball at the same time. He knocked the ball against me which opened my knee out and there are two tears in the ligament. "It's not good news - and this is all I needed because it will rule me out of the FA Cup match as well as some important league games and probably Ireland's Euro 2004 qualifiers at the end of March."
Damn, someone made the point on these boards (Can't remember who) that any time he looks like he'll break into the Ireland side something unfortunte usually happens to him, and it's happend again, I'd of had him starting in both matches. All we can do now is wish him a quick recovery.