Baggies' Thorne suffers ligament injury
West Brom midfielder George Thorne will be out of action for up to eight months with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the club have confirmed.
The 20-year-old suffered the injury during the first half of Wednesday's Barclays Premier League encounter with Everton at Goodison Park.
Thorne has only recently broken into the first team after being recalled from a loan spell at Peterborough.
An Albion spokesman said: "George Thorne has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will be out of action for six to eight months."
Thorne is a product of the Baggies academy and made his first-team debut during the 2009-2010 season aged just 16 and 328 days.
It made him the youngest player to appear for West Brom since Bobby Hope in 1960.
Thorne had a loan spell at Portsmouth and then Peterborough but was recalled from the latter after injuries and suspensions decimated West Brom's midfield.
Thorne was thrust straight into the side against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December and has impressed in recent matches.
But he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and faces a battle to be fit for the start of the next campaign.