Gardner 25, will head off to the USA to visit Colorado specialist Richard Steadman, the surgeon who had previously worked on the Reggae Boyz star when he suffered the same injury in a match against Barnsley in the Spring of 2000.
The wing back had been in fine form for the Wanderers and until his injury was an ever present in the club's league programme. This comes hot on the heels that fellow defender Simon Charlton will also be ruled out with hamstring trouble meaning that Allardyce will have a defensive headache until he can find suitable replacements for the duo who join long term casualty Florent Laville in the treatment room.
“It is a long-term injury and we don’t feel that Ricardo will be fit at any stage of this season.” Allardyce confirmed