Gutsy Kieron Dyer played for 18 minutes and scored with a broken leg for Ipswich on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old midfielder who was recently called into the full England squad was carried off with a clean break to his left fibula (the outer bone) and is expected to be out for at least six weeks.

Ipswich manager George Burley said: "Kieron scored a goal with a broken leg. It was fast and furious and it was certainly a heavy challenge.

"I'm disappointed for the boy. It is a nasty injury and especially at this time of the season it is a big blow for us, he is our most influential player.

"It is one of those things in football but he is a youngster and will get over it. Hopefully he will be back playing for us before the end of the season."

Dyer's broken leg overshadowed Town's 3-2 win over Watford which pushed them up to second place in the Nationwide Division One.

He was caught by a late, crude, tackle by Micah Hyde in the eighth minute and limped heavily for some time but appeared to have run it off by the time he scored Town's first goal on 17 minutes.

But nine minutes later he collapsed in a heap moments before the Blues won the free kick which Mark Venus converted.

An announcement was made over the public address system for his mum to go to the Ipswich dressing rooms where an x-ray had confirmed the break.

He was put in plaster and later taken to hospital for further checks.

England squad mate Richard Wright said: "We are all very disappointed for Kieron but he will bounce back."

Town players were clearly rattled by the news but David Johnson put them three up before Watford mounted a fighting finish with two goals from substitutes Tommy Smith and Tommy Mooney.

Burley, who was named Nationwide manager of the month for February, said: "We were cruising at three-nil up then gave away one bad goal and when they got the second it was nervy stuff.

"But thankfully we got three points and all credit to the lads. That was five wins and a draw in the last six."

Watford's Graham Taylor said: "Kieron is an excellent player and I hope his absence doesn't disrupt Ipswich too much.

"They are a lovely club and it would be no skin off my nose at all if they went up in an automatic place."

The win moved Town to second place, three points ahead of Bradford City who have a game in hand.

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