“I will work my hardest to get back out on the pitch to play for this amazing club.
Luke Brooke-Smith will undergo surgery after a “freak incident” in training. Photo / Photosport
“Thank you to all the staff and players for getting around me.”
Portsmouth coach John Mousinho said the injury was a “really unfortunate one” and praised how it was handled.
“It was dealt with really well by everyone at the training ground and he was taken to QA [Queen Alexandra Hospital] before being discharged really late last night,” Mousinho said.
“We’re going to leave it to settle for a couple of days, but he will go in for surgery after that.”
Meanwhile, his mother Clare took to social media to express her confidence in Luke making a swift return from his injury.
“People saying Luke is out for the season or career ending injury, either don’t know Luke or don’t know God,” she wrote, explaining that nine years ago he broke his leg in two places and dislocated his ankle before the World BMX Championships.
“The drive in this kid is like something I have never seen. Miracles after miracles.
“His faith and determination make him like no one else. Stand by my boy, send good vibes and positive thoughts.”
Clare said the incident which broke his leg happened about two months before the championships and with two weeks to go he had his cast taken off and was given the all clear to train again.
“Then a massive high, making the final in the biggest world champs of all time and becoming world number 6!”
Luke holds the record as the Wellington Phoenix’s youngest-ever player when he made his debut for them at 16 years and 199 days, later becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer and tallying up 33 league appearances before his move to England.