Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver, is backing team-mate Christian Kirk to make a full recovery from serious injury and fulfil his destiny with the NFL franchise.

Kirk, whose family has close ties to Bermuda, broke a foot during the Cardinals’s 20-17 upset over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field last weekend.

The rookie wide receiver had three receptions for 54 yards and also rushed for 23 yards on one carry before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with scans later confirming that Kirk had broken a foot which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

However, Fitzgerald, who has been selected for the Pro Bowl eleven times, is convinced that his team-mate will overcome his ordeal and live up to expectations.

“Christian, you have a destiny on this team and that destiny will not be stopped by this minor setback,” Fitzgerald wrote on social media site Instagram. “You’ll be one of the strongest forces that carries this team for many years to come.

“I’m proud of who you are as a man and proud to call you a team-mate and a brother.

“You will work through this.

“Stay focused and strong. We are all with you and expecting great things from you.”

Kirk has since undergone surgery and is now on the long road to recovery.

“Surgery was a success,” he tweeted. “Thank you for all the thoughts in prayers!

“2019 is gonna be special. Go Cards!”

The 5ft 11in, 200-lb wide receiver was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Kirk called time on his college career with one year remaining with Texas A&M to enter the Draft. He finished second on the school’s all-time reception list with 234 and third all-time in the Southeastern Conference.

His six punt return touchdowns are a school record while he is third both on receiving touchdowns (26) and receiving yards (2,856).

He led the Aggies in his final season with 71 receptions for 919 yards and ten touchdowns and received first team All-SEC honours as an all-purpose player and second team All-SEC as a wide receiver.

The 22-year old is the grandson of the late Florence Thomas-Kirk, who lived on North Shore, Pembroke, and taught locally before moving to Indianapolis.

The Cardinals improved to 3-9 for the season after achieving their first triumph over the Packers in Green Bay since 1949.