TOM PORTAS will not play again until next season as the Darlington midfielder has been told he requires surgery to repair ankle ligament damage.

He sustained the injury in September at Heritage Park in a match against Stalybridge Celtic when on the end of a particular poor challenge by Callum Bagshaw.

Bagshaw, who had been on only the field a matter of minutes as a substitute, was allowed to escape with only a booking from referee Kelvin Sarsfield, but Portas’ season is over.

Darlington had hoped he would not require an operation and the player has undertaken a series of strengthening exercises in the intervening three months.

He even took part in the warm-up before Darlington’s match on Boxing Day at Blackwell Meadows, but says his movement was limited and after seeking another medical opinion last week it became apparent that the injury is not healing sufficiently.

It is a bitter blow for Teessider Portas, a signing from Whitby Town in 2014, who says he has not previously suffered a long-term injury.

Gary Brown suffered the same injury in 2013 during the final seconds of a pre-season friendly at Gateshead.

He was out for the bulk of the following season, his return in February 2014 coming well ahead of schedule.

Bagshaw’s appearance against Darlington was one of only eight he made this season, all of them from the bench and he was cautioned in four of them.

But he will not be involved when Darlington play at second-bottom Stalybridge on March 11 as he last week dropped down a division to join Droylsden.