NEIL Lennon admits the loss of Zach Clough for the rest of the season is a huge blow for both the club and player but he is backing the young striker to bounce back next season.

Clough celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday but was in hospital 24 hours later to undergo surgery on the shoulder he dislocated against Reading seven days ago.

The youngster voted February’s player of the month by the Wanderers faithful is now beginning up to three months of rehabilitation.

But despite the blow, Lennon says the Denton-born goalscorer – who has netted six goals in just eight starts in the senior side – remains in positive mood.

The Whites boss told The Bolton News: “Zach had surgery yesterday and he will be out for two to three months.

“What can you do? It’s hugely disappointing.

“He is not to down about it.

“I think he has dislocated his shoulder before when he was younger and it just popped back in.

“But this time the ligaments had ripped away from the shoulder so it required surgery.

“He was in hospital on Monday – a day after his birthday.

“He has a great start to his career but this is obviously a blow to him.

“It’s a blow for us as well because we’re going to miss him.

“It’s the unfortunate side of the game that injuries curtail your progress sometimes.

“He will have his rehab to do so he will be still coming in.

“There might be an opportunity where we can send him away for a week if it’s necessary.

“But with the summer coming up, it might not be required.”

In addition to Clough, Lennon also lost the services of defenders Kevin McNaughton with a fracture to his right leg and David Wheater (hamstring) in a crazy first half of last week’s 1-1 home draw with Reading.

And while there is an outside hope Wheater could figure again in the final weeks of the campaign, McNaughton is unlikely to play a part again this season.

Lennon said: “It looks like the three of them will be out for the season unless David can recover.

“We are looking at maybe six to eight weeks for him.

“Kevin will be eight weeks as well at least.”

Lennon moved quickly into the loan market to bolster his ranks for the final 11 games of the Championship season with midfielder Giles Coke arriving from Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace centre-back Paddy McCarthy training with the team yesterday and expected to seal his switch in time to figure in tomorrow’s Lancashire derby at Blackburn.

And he is happy to have the pair on board for the remainder of the season, even if it means a juggling act with only five of those on loan at the Macron Stadium permitted to be in the matchday squad.

With McNaughton out injured, it means Lennon has to perm eight into five from Coke, McCarthy – once confirmed, Adam Le Fondre, Ben Amos, Rochinha, Simeon Slavchev, Saidy Janko and Barry Bannan.

Lennon added: “We have got a couple of players in on loan to bolster the squad.

“But it’s not ideal when you can only pick five loan players.

“We had seven already and now we have nine.

“We have a juggling act to do to get the right balance in the squad that we want.

“I don’t think too much about it apart from picking the best team I have available.

“I put the strongest team out I have.

“At times you will pull the players in who have been left out and tell them the reasons why but I don’t dwell on it too much.

“Giles came in last week and Paddy came in yesterday.

“I like Giles – he’s a good player who was available and we are a bit light in midfield at the minute with Liam Trotter and Darren Pratley out injured.

“He played a game on Friday against Burnley and came through an hour of that okay and played very well.

“Paddy is experienced. With David (Wheater) being out, I felt the need to bring another one in at the back.

“He has experience at not only Championship level but the Premier league as well.

“I think he’s hungry to play because he hasn’t played in a little while.

“He had a loan spell with Sheffield United so he is fit and ready to play.

“I think he will be invaluable for us in the remainder of the season.

“Both are ready to play at Blackburn if called upon.”