KYLE KNOYLE faces months out after being diagnosed with a bleed on his brain after colliding with a Stockport team-mate.
The defender was knocked out cold during New Year’s Day’s loss to Mansfield and rushed to hospital after 15 minutes of treatment.
And Stockport boss Dave Challinor has revealed the extent of the 27-year-old West Ham youth product’s injuries, including his brain bleed.
He said: “We got the results of another MRI scan, which revealed he has a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone and a concussion.
“They’re not the worst things but he has a small bleed on the brain – that will go away, he’s not got any symptoms that are debilitating in any way. It will go.
“There’s no cognitive problems but he’s seeing a neurosurgeon at the end of January and we’ll see what that looks like.
“Raul Jimenez was out for nine months but there was also a fractured skull and a slight bleed.
“Kyle’s is tiny, there’s no effect or impact on him but with things like that, there’s a real carefulness to make sure that when he goes back in, there’s not going to be another situation.
“I’d suggest his return will be months. I’m planning without Kyle for some time.
“Once there becomes that type of specialist involvement, it’s going to take quite a lot to sign him off to go out and head a football again.”
Knoyle joined Stockport in January 2023 and has made 17 appearances in League Two this season.
He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club after leaving Doncaster Rovers.
The defender spent seven years at West Ham as he progressed through the youth academy before getting into the senior squad.
He only made one appearance for the Hammers’ first team, as he started against Astra Giurgiu in a Europa League qualifier.
