LOI | O'Sullivan injury blow for Cork City

Cork City have confirmed that Cathal O'Sullivan has torn his ACL.

The teenage attacker suffered the injury just 20 minutes into the Leesiders' 3-2 defeat to Sligo Rovers on Friday night at Turner's Cross.

O'Sullivan, 18, has made 21 appearances for the Leesiders this season, who are languishing 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Premier Division. The Republic of Ireland U21 international has been linked with a move overseas, having spent time with Crystal Palace earlier this year amidst links with Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

"We are all absolutely gutted for Cathal to have suffered this injury," Cork manager Ger Nash said.

"As everybody knows, he is a really talented player with a very promising future, so this is a big setback for him, but we will all rally around him and support him. I have no doubt that he will come back stronger from this, and we will all support him in doing so."

O'Sullivan previously suffered an ACL injury before winning the First Division with Cork last season.

The left-footed winger's injury comes as a bitter blow for a Cork side who are without a win in their last 14 attempts, with just 11 league matches remaining this season.