Injury-plagued Bermuda striker John Barry Nusum has not given up on playing for Crystal Palace Baltimore again this season despite reports suggesting he has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage.

Medical staff at the club fear Nusum may have torn his anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) – an injury that can potentially rule a player out for nine months – and do not expect him to play again this term.

But Nusum still remains optimistic that he won't require surgery this campaign, as he is desperate to return for Palace's bid for the USL-D2 play-offs.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since landing awkwardly on his left knee against Richmond Kickers last month.

"They (Palace) say I may have done my ACL but I've just got to take it day by day and see how it improves," Nusum said.

"At the moment I'm struggling to jog but I'm still going to the gym to try and strengthen my knee. Right now I just want to try and get back out onto the practice field and then take it from there. I'm still hoping to play for Palace this season."

Nusum had hoped his move to Palace would have opened up the possibility to further advance his career, with the ambitious team the American arm of the English Championship side.

But he has spent the majority of the season on the treatment table nursing a catalogue of injuries, which have reduced the former Bermuda Hogges marksman to just five appearances.

Palace coach Pete Medd said losing Nusum through injury had affected the team's form, but insisted that he remained an integral part of the franchise's long-term plans.

"Losing John probably precipitated the start of our bad run in the league," said Medd, whose team beat Bermuda Hogges 2-1 at the National Sports Centre last week.

"We've really missed him and it's a big blow for us.

"Obviously John is very disappointed and so are we as we had such high hopes for him as our target man this season.

"John's a great guy and a great professional. Our medical team will do everything they can to help him return stronger than before.

"An ACL injury would be a serious one as it can keep a player out for around nine months.

"But John's central to our future plans and we look foward to his return."

Nusum has been troubled by injuries since scoring twice for Bermuda's national team against Trinidad last summer to leapfrog Shaun Goater as the Island's all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup qualifying football.

Crystal Palace Baltimore are second in the USL-D2 league table.