The ‘Faz and Paz’ Show will be off for months

The week after top-scorer Will Fazakerley disclocated a shoulder in the defeat at Herne Bay, Paris Pereira limped off playing for Bels against Alderney.

The news on his knee injury is not at all good, confirmed GFC coach Colin Fallaize.

‘They are both long-term injuries,’ he said yesterday.

‘Paris has very likely chipped a little bit of bone off his knee and we are awaiting feedback from the fracture clinic.

‘But he’s straight away six weeks in a knee brace. It’s a bad one, whatever it is,’ Fallaize added.

Ligament damage is also very likely.

Pereira was chasing a loose ball alongside Alderney defender Josh Concanen when the two accidentally collided and the Bels man twisted his knee. Immediately it was clear he had a major problem and his new domestic club career would be cut short.

Pereira had signed for Bels to get some much-need match minutes in his legs after a long-standing groin injury had kept him out of the Guernsey FC picture.

Once recovered from the groin, Pereira found his path back into the side blocked by the form of Fazakerley, Carlos Canha and the returning Ross Allen.

Fallaize also conceded Fazakerley is now out for some time.

‘You don’t recover from that in five minutes. He will be out for a good couple of months for sure.’

But as the door closes in on ‘Faz’ and ‘Paz’, it opens opportunity for others such as youngsters Robbie Legg and Alex Scott, and GFC stalwart Matt Loaring. Perhaps, even, Rovers’ creative midfielder Sam Hall may find it easier to force his way into the line-up.

‘The injuries are bad news in terms of the squad and level of competition for places,’ said Fallaize.