The former Sunderland and Middlesbrough player sustained a season-ending injury… Charlie Wyke, who previously played for Sunderland and Wigan Athletic, has reacted to his season-ending injury. The striker, who has 130 career goals, spent last season on loan at Rotherham United, but was demoted from the Championship when Wigan Athletic failed to challenge for promotion from League One. The Latics later released Wyke at the end of 2023-24.
The former Middlesbrough player, who scored 42 goals in all competitions for the Black Cats between 2018 and 2021, became a free agent last summer and signed with Carlisle United in League Two, where he was later joined by ex-Sunderland and Rangers winger Jordan Jones. Wyke, 31, was injured in a horrible incident for Carlisle United against Cheltenham Town last weekend, ending his season. The striker’s ankle issue comes after he returned to fitness after suffering a heart attack while playing for Wigan Athletic three years ago.
“It’s a really nasty one…In an exclusive interview with our sister publication, Wigan Today, Wyke stated, “I’ve fractured my fibula, and all of the ligaments and tendons have ruptured.” “As soon as it happened, I felt sharp pangs in my shin where the bone had snapped… When I looked down, my ankle was facing the incorrect way… it was terrible, to be honest.
“After all that has happened in the previous several years, I must be the most unlucky person on the planet. All I can think about right now is, ‘Why has this happened to me again… how unlucky can one person be’? I had just started to feel good about myself again; things was beginning to click on the field, and then this happened.
“Since being appointed captain, I’ve been attempting to unite the troops…with the team also struggling, they require our assistance, which I will be unable to provide. It’s a fact of life, but I’m going to have to be tough since there’s nothing else you can do in this scenario.
“I know I’ll have to chat with a few individuals because I’m well aware of how difficult the coming months will be. But the people I’ll be relying on are my family, and it’s difficult for them to see me like this, lying in bed screaming in pain all the time. I have an operation scheduled for Monday, but it keeps getting postponed due to the swelling.” Wyke also revealed that he had got encouragement from former Sunderland teammate Jones, as well as messages from ex-Black Cats Will Grigg and Max Power.
“I’ve always said with everything that happened with my heart, I’ve never been the same person as before,” according to him. I’m either very high or very down; there’s rarely anything in between. I know I need to stay positive, and I’ve had some good chats with the gaffer (Mike Williamson). To be fair, he came with me to the hospital and sat with me for eight hours, which was incredible of him.
“Jordan Jones has also been hanging around at my place for the past few days; he’s obviously one of my greatest friends; everyone knows his personality off the pitch, and he’s been there for me. He only lives 10 minutes away and drives by on his way to training, so I’ll definitely become bored of him before long!
“And I have to say, I’ve had so many messages from the Wigan lads… Jason Kerr, Scott Smith, Harry McHugh, James Carragher, Jonny Smith, Cal Mac, Jimmy Barrow, Jack Winnard… so many others… Callum Lang, Josh Magennis, Stephen Humphrys, Max Power, Tom Naylor, Will Grigg… I could go through them all.
“We had such a close group at Wigan, and I can’t thank the guys enough for sending their words; they’ve really lifted my spirits… it means a lot. I suppose not receiving messages is when you realize you haven’t been a good teammate, but I’ve been completely overwhelmed. But over 80% of the players I met at Wigan have contacted me, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me and my family.”
Carlisle manager Williamson has also expressed his displeasure with Wyke’s plight. “It’s obviously disappointing news for Charlie and for all of us,” he told me. “He’s our captain and will be missed, but we know how tough he is and are all behind him. He has the full support of everyone at the football club, and we’ll assist him in every manner we can.”
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