JON Dadi Bodvarsson’s season could be over after he was told he will need surgery on an ankle injury sustained in last week’s game against Portsmouth.

The Icelandic striker limped off at the University of Bolton Stadium having landed awkwardly after a header but had been confident he could be back in action quickly.

Scans this week have revealed extensive damage, however, which could leave the 30-year-old out of commission for the next five months.

Bodvarsson has suffered a string of minor injuries this season, including a broken nose which also needed surgery, but had been showing signs of returning to top form alongside Dion Charles.

“We have had some disastrous news, Jon will be out for the season as he requires some surgery,” manager, Ian Evatt confirmed. “He will be missing for four or five months.

“It was unexpected. It looked innocuous but sometimes as I have said before the innocuous ones can be the worst.

“I am gutted for Jon because we feel like he was just getting back to his best after a disrupted start to the season. The last few weeks we saw some really good signs for him.

“We will support him as always and hope that he makes a speedy recovery but because it is surgery, it looks like the season.”

Bodvarsson’s career has been relatively injury-free but this season has been a stop-start affair which had limited him to just 13 starts in all competitions.

The striker had stated how much he had enjoyed moving to the town and becoming a popular figure at the club after signing from Millwall in January last year.

But Evatt admits the way his season has now been brought to a premature end is hard to take.

“Mentally it has been very challenging for him and you have to remember that he and his wife have moved to Bolton and bought into the town and culture here. Sometimes when you are alone, it is tough,” he said. “And it could be even tougher if Jon is not doing what he wants to do every weekend, and that’s play football.

“We will give him all the love and guidance we possibly can but it is so disappointing for us all.”