Former Hearts defender Bobby Burns 'absolutely devastated' after double leg break

Former Hearts defender Bobby Burns is expected to miss the rest of the 2020/21 season after suffering a double leg break in a match for Glentoran at the weekend.

Bobby Burns was at Hearts for two years, though he also had two loan spells away from Tynecastle in that time. Picture: SNS

The Northern Irishman broke his tibia and fibula in a challenge with Coleraine's James McLaughlin, a tackle which Burns says he has “no hard feelings” about.

The 21-year-old posted an update late on Sunday evening from his bed in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital as he awaits surgery.

He wrote: "Absolutely devastated to get a double leg break in the tibia and fibula.

"Long road to recovery but looking forward to getting stuck into the rehab and coming back better than ever next season.

"No hard feelings at all to James, he is a great lad and I have no doubt it was an honest tackle to play the ball."

Burns spent two years with Hearts after signing in the summer of 2018 from Glenavon. He made ten appearances, scoring once in a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen. He also had loan spells with Livingston and Newcastle Jets before leaving Hearts this summer to sign with English League Two side Barrow, before moving on loan to Glentoran.

Among those posting messages of support was former Tynecastle team-mate Sean Clare, who wrote: “All the best bro you’ll be back stronger.”

Burns said he’d been “overwhelmed” by those who’ve reached since he sustained the injury.

He added: “It's a wonderful mark of the Irish League family that at least one person from every club contacted me."

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