Glenn Ferguson was faced with an agonising wait last night before finding out the full extent of the knee injury it is feared could end his career.

The 39-year-old Linfield striker left the scene of the Blues’ 3-0 Boxing Day win over Belfast rivals Glentoran on a stretcher before needing the aid of crutches on his way out of Windsor Park.

After being examined by a specialist yesterday, cruciate ligament damage isn’t suspected, but that will be only confirmed once a later MRI scan is checked and then a full diagnosis will be made.

“I haven’t been told as yet exactly what is wrong with the knee and it will only be on Tuesday that the scan results will be known,” said Ferguson.

“The club physio Terry Hayes and the doctor will get those through and then we’ll take things from there.

“I haven’t done much since Friday, I have tried to stay off my leg and while it is still a bit sore it’s not as painful as it was over the weekend.

“I had a brace on it after the match and now I just have a heavy strapping to suport the knee.

“It’s just a matter of waiting and there isn’t really anything that I can do at this stage.

Ferguson’s knee locked as he landed after winning an aerial challenge on what was another memorable day in the career of the 500-goal hitman.

He hit Linfield’s opener after just nine minutes and then added the second — via a deflection — shortly before half-time.

Damian Curran’s excellent strike put the Blues 3-0 up just after half-time to cut the Glentoran’s lead at the top of the Irish FA Premiership to two points.

Had Linfield been playing anyone other than the Glens, that might have been the signal for Ferguson to be given a break with three games in nine days over the Christmas and New Year period.

Instead, with other experienced players such as Noel Bailie sitting in the stand injured, Ferguson stayed on the pitch as the Blues went for the kill against the Glens.

And rather than being given an ovation from the crowd, Ferguson left to sympathetic applause from the Blues fans as he was carried off.

“Straight away I thought that it might have been my cruciate ligament,” admitted Ferguson.

“I don’t want to allow myself to think too positively, but anything other than the cruciate would be a bonus really.

“I have to fear the worst while hoping for the best.”

If the news is good then Ferguson will look back on 2008 a happy man.

It was earlier this year that he hit that 500-goal milestone — and he did it on the perfect stage, too.

With Linfield trailing 2-1 in the CIS Insurance Cup final against Crusaders, Ferguson — who had been out of the starting line-up for a few weeks before the final — came off the bench and not only did he equalise, the Windsor Park hero ensured that extra-time wasn’t required either by popping up with the winner in the dying minutes of the game to break the hearts of the north Belfast side.

Linfield have coped without Ferguson (left) before and gone on to win the league.

When they lifted the Gibson Cup back in 2000 and 2001 Ferguson missed the early part of both campaigns through injury, leaving David Larmour and Chris Morgan to score the goals.

How they manage this time, even in the short-term, could well tell a tale in the title race.

Jeffrey does have the livewire Michael Carvill in attack and he has weighed in with his fair share of goals along the way this season.

Paul Munster hasn’t figured in either of the last two games, but he has scored goals in big games already this season and may be looked to again.

Ferguson has another reason to get back into action. He will want to play in his own testimonial game at the conclusion of the season.