“If you’re going to have a break, this is a good one,” Belinda said this week as Robert was being prepared for surgery at Tamworth hospital.

Surgeons will insert pins in his leg meaning he could be walking in a matter of days.

The incident occurred about 15 minutes into the second half of the United’s Northern Inland Premier League first grade match at Wolseley Park.

United was looking strong against a top-ranking Joeys  FC side from Inverell.

Scores were tied 2-2 when striker Robert contested possession with the opposition goal keeper.

The two players collided heavily and the ball squeezed wide of the posts.

Robert came off second-best from the impact and was carried from the field where the severity of his injury became apparent.

“It was very distressing, very upsetting,” United manager Richard Grant said.

“It has certainly affected us all."

Not only did the side lose one of their best in that moment, seemingly for the remainder of the season, the game turned in an instant.

No penalty was awarded from the clash that would have offered United the perfect opportunity to go 3-2 up.

“It was a great game up until then,” Grant said.

“We were in a good place, breaking well, knocking the ball around nicely.

“But we lost our way after that [injury].

“Mentally we were affected.”

Robert scored the one United’s first goals of the match before Joeys equalised on stroke of half-time.

United hit back early in the second-half, followed by Joeys shortly after off a penalty kick awarded for a United hand-ball.

But with the wind long gone from United sails and one of their “most valuable” on his way to hospital, Joeys turned the screws and pushed out to 4-2 by full-time.

United midfielder Harley Cheetam, who is running at almost “a-goal-a-game”, was a standout again for his side on Saturday.

Cheetham is expected to push up front to replace the injured Pryor for this weekend’s hit-out against defending premiers, Oxley Vale Attunga, in Tamworth.

United reserve grade will be looking to bounce back to winning form this weekend as well.

The southern conference table toppers drew 4-4 with Joeys despite leading 3-0 at one stage.

“They [Joeys] just kept coming and coming,” Grant said.

“We’re still top of the table though.”

With a few players either injured or unavailable this week, Grant said the OVA games will be a good test of the club depth.