Coventry City old boy news from CoventryLive as former Sky Blues forward to face another year out after suffering same injury that struck him down at the CBS Arena
Fabio Tavares of Rotherham United rounds Goalkeeper Ryan Boot of Chesterfield to score the opening goal 1-0
Former Sky Blues striker Fabio Tavares scoring for Rotherham United
Former Coventry City striker Fabio Tavares has suffered another agonising career blow after rupturing an Achilles tendon for a second time.
The one-time promising Sky Blues striker missed over a year of football during his time at the CBS Arena in January 2023 and now faces a similar lay-off at his latest club, Rotherham United, where the 25-year-old had made a bright start to the season, starting every game and scoring a couple of goals.
Tavares, who joined the Millers in the summer from Burton Albion – for whom he scored eight goals in 35 games last season after being released by Frank Lampard – is preparing to undergo surgery this week.
The pacy forward has already been ruled out for the rest of the 2026/27 League Two campaign after suffering the heartbreaking injury in a match at York City late last month.
He is being operated on this week by world-renowned ankle specialist James Calder before beginning the long road to recovery which will drag into next season.
Tavares suffered the same injury with Coventry on January 7, 2023 against Wrexham in the FA Cup and didn’t make his comeback until January 6 the following year against Oxford United in the second tier.
“Fab’s op is going to be down in London,” boss Alex Bruce told the Rotherham Advertiser.
“With Achilles injuries, you’ve just got to give the player time. If we can get him right and fit for the start of next season, it’ll be a good job. Especially with it being his second one, you’ve got to be really careful.”
Rotherham’s head coach is well aware of Calder’s excellence, having been operated on by the 58-year-old himself in his own playing days.
“Fab’s in good hands,” he said. “James is a fantastic surgeon. My issue was an Achilles as well. It wasn’t a rupture, but it was something similar. They had to take my Achilles off to repair some heel damage. My comeback was a similar kind of time frame to Fab’s. I know what he’s going to have to go through to get back fit.”
Tavares had started every game this season before misfortune struck in his ninth outing when he landed awkwardly after making an aerial challenge at York Community Stadium and had to be helped from the pitch by medical staff.
It’s a sickening blow for the Millers and the player, particularly after the ordeal he went through during his four-and-and-half-year spell with the Sky Blues.
The attacker later moved on to Burton Albion and became the first of Rotherham’s 16 arrivals under Bruce when he signed a two-year deal at AESSEAL New York Stadium in late June.
Bruce added: “Fab’s just got to be patient and make sure that when he comes back, he’s right. That’s the most important thing.”
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Coventry City writer Andy Turner
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