Colm Whelan celebrates scoring against St Patrick's Athletic at the Brandywell in April
Derry City forward Colm Whelan will miss the rest of the 2023 campaign because of a serious knee injury.
The Republic of Ireland U21 international was stretchered off with the injury in the home defeat by Shamrock Rovers last month.
Whelan made a goalscoring debut for the Candystripes in April after recovering from a ACL injury.
However, his comeback lasted just two weeks with his absence a blow to City's title ambitions.
Whelan sustained the ACL injury in May last year while he was playing for UCD and joined Derry seven months later.
The 22-year-old scored in his first two City appearances before picking up another serious knee injury and he again faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Derry sit second in the Premier Division and four points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers.
