BURY FC youngster John Gaynor looks set to win thousands of pounds in compensation after suffering a horrific injury two years ago.

The highly-rated right back, aged 19, was left in agony after a challenge by Blackpool's John Connors broke his leg in three places.

Gaynor is still with the Shakers, but hasn't played since the incident as he is still undergoing treatment.

Blackpool Football Club have always maintained that the challenge, for which Connors earned a red card, was an accident and refused to pay out any compensation through their insurers.

But following a three day hearing at Oldham County Court last November, Judge Armitage QC has now ruled in Gaynor's favour.

Representing Gaynor, Paul Mulderrig of Mulderrig Compensation Lawyers said that a compensation sum had not yet been agreed.

"It is difficult to say how much the compensation could be because at the moment we are not sure if Mr Gaynor will be able to resume his professional career.

"But even if he does it will be tens of thousands of pounds.

"The judge heard a large number of witnesses who gave different accounts of what happened and decided that Mr Gaynor's account was correct."

"John's doing his utmost to get back to full fitness and he's showing loads of character after the bad time he has had," said Bury boss Andy Preece.

"He was on a par with Chris Armstrong two years ago and everyone at the club wishes him well after all the operations he has been through."

Ironically, Connors, who his still on Blackpool's books, has not played himself since suffering a bad ligament injury against Preston North End in October 2000.