Peterborough United boss 'devastated' for defender now set for further injury lay-off

Lees was forced off right at the end of the first half in the 1-1 draw against Cardiff City after a challenge from David Turnbull. Turnbull was only shown a yellow card, despite the protests of Posh’s players and staff. He was swiftly taken off at half-time.

Lees was able to walk off the field but with a significant two-inch gash high up his shin. The 35-year-old is now set for another spell on the sidelines after only making his return from a calf injury - which ruled him our for almost two months - on Good Friday.

Williams expressed his disappointment for Lees personally, but stopped short of saying he believed Turnbull should have been shown a red card.

Williams said: “I would like to say there’s no intent or malice, but it’s a huge cut halfway up his shin. It’s a big shame and not nice to see.

“We then suffer because we don’t have a player like Tom Lees. I’m devastated for him because of all of the work he’d done to get back and he was playing fantastically well.

“The way he left the pitch was so typical Tom Lees as well. They brought the stretcher on an he obviously said ‘no, that’s no for me. I’ll just put my severed leg under my arm and walk off. That’s what we love about Tom Lees, he’s double tough.

“If there is intent there, then it has to be a red. I don’t know if there was - I hope there wasn’t - so if there wasn’t and it’s unfortunate then a yellow is enough.”

When pushed on if Lees would miss any matches with the injury, he said: “Potentially, yeah because it was a significant cut.”