LOAN striker Anton Forester has returned to parent club Blackburn Rovers after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Bury’s draw with Fleetwood Town last week.

Scans revealed tears to the 20-year-old forward’s anterior and medial knee ligaments, sustained following a crunching tackle from Fleetwood’s Mark Roberts.

Bury boss David Flitcroft had called for the tackle to be reviewed after Roberts escaped punishment by referee Mark Haywood and sent his best wishes to Forrester after it was confirmed he would be out for at least six months.

“Anton is in a bad way,” he said.

“I certainly believed at the time it was a bad tackle by the way he has rotated on it.

“I’ve spoken to Anton, who is a young lad trying to make his way in the game.

“The only saving grace is that Blackburn have got one of the best physios in Dave Fevre, so he couldn’t be in better hands.”

Flitcroft revealed the Liverpudlian, who scored seven goals in 31 appearances for Bury, sent good luck messages to his Shakers team-mates before Saturday’s draw at Southend United.

And he added: “He’s gutted because he wanted to be part of this, certainly until the end of the season.

“From everyone at the club, we all wish Anton well and thank him for what he did because his goals have been important for us.”