Just 13 minutes after his return for Tranmere, Liverpool striker Paul Glatzel suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that kept him out for six months.
It has been a nightmare year for Glatzel, whose first season on loan at Tranmere came to a frustrating end in March when he suffered a hamstring injury in a 3-2 win over Mansfield.
The 21-year-old returned to the AXA Training Center to undergo his rehabilitation, before another temporary move to Prenton Park was sanctioned on deadline day this month.
He did it when he was not yet fit, but manager Micky Mellon was clearly convinced of his ability when he was available to call another transfer.
After six months out, Glatzel returned to the pitch as a substitute in Tuesday’s home clash against Bradford City.
The youngster came on for Elliott Nevett in the 71st minute, with the score at 1-1, but less than a quarter of an hour later he was forced off again.
Andy Cook had scored the eventual winner for Bradford before that, with Glatzel sinking into the grass soon after, and speaking after the game, Mellon described him as a “destroyer of souls”.
“I think he’s injured his hamstring, which is heartbreaking for him,” the coach told Tranmere’s official website.
“He himself is heartbroken because he has worked so hard to come back. That’s a destroyer of souls, isn’t it?
“Obviously we’ll see where he is in the next 24 hours for him, and that’s something else we’ll deal with.”
It’s a bitter blow for Glatzel, who was plagued by a series of injuries during his first loan at Tranmere, though how long he faces remains to be seen.
The hope will be that this is a minor issue, with many fans believing he was rushed back by Mellon due to Tranmere’s poor form, and will require scans to determine the extent of his injury.
Liverpool are likely to provide assistance when it comes to any fitness issues for Glatzel, with the short trip back to Kirkby allowing the striker to receive some elite treatment.
