Chris Kirkland's injury jinx has struck again in a hammer blow for West Bromwich Albion's bid to avoid relegation.
Albion's on-loan goalkeeper has been ruled out of the rest of the season after breaking his finger during training yesterday.
The break is the latest in a series of misfortunes for the 24-year-old. Kirkland's slim chances of being involved in England's World Cup party, which were receding due to Tomasz Kuszczak's fine form, have now disappeared.
Kirkland was distraught after training and, although the Baggies are awaiting the outcome of medical reports, the towering goalkeeper appears to have accepted his campaign is over.
The affable Kirkland's problems started shortly after joining Liverpool for #6 million from Coventry City five years ago.
He quickly established himself as Liverpool's No 1 under Gerard Houllier, but a bad ankle injury in an FA Cup tie ruled him out for five months in January 2003.
Shortly after regaining his spot from Jerzy Dudek he broke a finger against Bolton on Boxing Day in the same year.
Five matches after returning he broke his wrist in another training incident, which scuppered his chances of representing England at Euro 2004.
When Rafael Benitez signed Jose Reina for #6 m from Villarreal this summer the writing was on the wall for Kirkland. He left for Albion.
An impressive start looked to have levered him above David James in the role as England's second-choice goalkeeper. However, three months after linking up with the Black Country side, he suffered a kick to the kidneys [2014] again against Bolton [2014] and has since found the agile Kuszczak impossible to remove.
Kirkland is a jovial figure around The Hawthorns but even his good nature will have been tested to the limit by this latest setback, caused when a flying ball caught the tip of his finger.
Meanwhile former Albion striker Geoff Horsfield will be in limbo until the end of the season after a proposed loan move to Derby fell through.
Horsfield has been ostracised by Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock five weeks after joining on loan in a deal that committed them to signing the striker for #1.25m in the summer.
However, Horsfield has fallen out with assistant manager Stuart McCall and Warnock and has been ordered to stay away from United's training ground.
After lengthy discussions with Derby, it appeared Horsfield was set to end the campaign at Pride Park but after turning up for training yesterday, the 32-year-old was informed that no paperwork had arrived therefore he was unable to sign.
With insurance issues at stake, Horsfield trained in the gymnasium whilst the clubs tried to strike a deal regarding the transfer fee owing to Albion. However, the 5pm deadline passed with no solution.
Even though Robson is an admirer of Horsfield, the club are adamant he is now Sheffield's player as they have already spent the monies received on Nigel Quashie.
All of which means Horsfield is on 'gardening leave' on full pay until July 1 and facing an uncertain future.
He is set for showdown talks with the Blades' chairman on Monday, as Warnock has made it clear there is no way back at Bramall Lane.
There has even been a suggestion that Horsfield could train with Albion for the remainder of the campaign, such is his relationship with Robson. However, he won't kick another ball in anger this season.
