Injured Nixon out for season

EASTERN striker Paul Nixon looks like being ruled out for the rest of the season after aggravating a thigh strain.

The 30-year-old crowd favourite, who has played a leading role in Eastern's rise to the top of Hong Kong football, will have scans taken of the muscle in his right thigh today - but does not expect to play competitively again this season.

Said Nixon: ''It's pretty hard to take because I've only played eight matches this season.

''But in football you have to learn to live with these things because it is not uncommon.'' Nixon, who was born in the northeast of England but is a New Zealand citizen, began the campaign with three goals in the first two league games but pulled the muscle in his side's 6-1 defeat of Rangers in a Challenge Shield quarter-final at Mongkok Stadium on November 4.

After a five-week break, Nixon was about to return to action when he aggravated the injury in training. Eight weeks later he did it again and this time there looks to be no way back.

''It's the same muscle that keeps pulling and every time it happens it will take longer to recover,'' added Nixon.

''I have told Eastern that the surgeon said it would be most unlikely I would be able to play again this season.'' Eastern have been able to cover for his absence, because they have six foreign players on their books. Tony Sealy now finds himself in the side for Nixon alongside Dale Tempest.

Nixon moved to Hong Kong from Bristol Rovers in March 1991, joining Lai Sun, who were then under the control of Eastern's current team management, Lam Kin-ming and Peter Leung.

After the 1990-91 season he moved to Eastern, and in their treble-winning season last term, he was voted runner-up in the Overseas Player of the Year award by his fellow professionals.