Le Saux resigned to missing Euro '96

Graeme Le Saux yesterday had to admit that his chances of playing in next summer's European Championship finals were remote.

The England defender was carried off during Blackburn's 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Ewood Park on Saturday. Yesterday, Le Saux's agent, Jon Holmes, confirmed that the player sustained a broken tibia, a dislocated ankle and a ruptured tendon in his right leg after landing awkwardly while making a challenge on Juninho of Middlesbrough.

Le Saux's sister, Jeanette, admitted that he has been left devastated by the news as he recuperates in the Highfield private hospital in Rochdale. After visiting him she said: "Obviously he's very upset and distraught about it but he's just got to come to terms with it like everyone else.''

It is the second time this season that Le Saux has been sidelined by a serious ankle problem - he missed eight games when he suffered a nasty injury in the Premiership encounter with Coventry in September.