Pakistan international Amjad Iqbal is sidelined once again as his injury nightmare continues.

Iqbal, widely considered one of the best Bradford-born players never to have played in the Football League, only recently signed for Bradford Park Avenue following almost a year out.

His leg was shattered in a challenge at Armthorpe Welfare when he was playing for previous club Farsley AFC.

It was a complicated injury and Iqbal showed the strength of his character to battle back to full fitness. He built up his match sharpness in friendlies and other closed-door games and earned himself a deal at Horsfall.

Avenue boss John Deacey, who was Iqbal’s manager at Farsley Celtic before their administration and subsequent demise, offered him terms and was delighted by the form the player brought to his game from his first start onwards.

Deacey was visibly upset as he said: “Ammers has bust his leg again and he is distraught, as are the rest of us. Everyone at the club wishes him all the best and we will do what we can to keep his spirits up.

“He was injured in a challenge during last week’s win at Ashton United and he went to hospital but it wasn’t until the day after that the extent of the injury was confirmed.

“He has cracked the bone again, so it’s not as bad as it could have been, but he will be out for six to eight weeks before rehab can begin.”

Iqbal had just been joined at the club by Adnan Ahmed, another Pakistan international, but while Ammers was laid up on Monday night as Avenue went down 1-0 at home to Marine, his compatriot was away with the national squad.

The news could not have come at a worse time for Avenue as they are still trying to get over their heavy defeat in the first round of the FA Cup. These next few weeks could be crucial to the club’s season, either recovering or entering a tailspin.

But Deacey’s thoughts are just for the player as he said: “Ammers is one of the nicest lads I know – and by that I mean in life, not just football. If anyone deserves a run of good luck and an injury-free season, then it’s him.

“But isn’t that typical of life? He really has deserved better all through his career but all of the good guys never seem to get the best out of it.”