CROCKED Partick Thistle striker Liam Buchanan's hopes of a quick return to action have been dashed after he drove 330 miles to see a surgeon - only to discover the doc had gone on holiday.

The injured Firhill star heard his appointment with Dr David Lloyd had been scrapped just as he pulled into the car park at Leicester's exclusive Nuffield Hospital.

The call on his mobile came after a five-hour drive from his home in Edinburgh.

And today, staff at the private Midlands hospital apologised for the botch-up that left fans' hero Buchanan furious.

The player had booked a consultation with Dr Lloyd after being sidelined with a serious groin injury since February. Now he fears the cancelled appointment will hit his hopes of a quick comeback.

Shell-shocked Buchanan, 23, said: "It has been a really frustrating summer.

"Despite a combination of rest, extensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy it became clear that I was not ready to resume training.

"As such, the club decided it was time to go private and seek expert advice from a consultant who successfully dealt with the same problem suffered by a couple of Falkirk players.

"So when I got my appointment for Tuesday it gave me a real boost.

"I drove all the way down to Leicester and as I pulled into the car park my mobile went off.

"It was the hospital and they told me that Mr Lloyd had gone on holiday without alerting them to the fact and were calling to cancel my appointment.

"The rest was a blur as I was left in a total state of shock.

"I wasn't even angry, I just didn't know what to say, but it felt like the end of the world."

The striker, who bagged 14 goals last season, then had no option but to head home - a round trip of 10 hours.

He added: "It is just unbelievable that this breakdown in communication has happened.

"It means that instead of possibly being back in action by the end of August I now have nothing to aim for.

"I will have to wait for the consultant to get back from holiday and then get another appointment. I am absolutely gutted."

Today, the Nuffield blamed the mix-up on an "administrative error".

A spokesman said: "The hospital apologises unreservedly for the oversight and will be contacting the patient to offer its sincere apologies and to offer alternative arrangements for his treatment.

"We will be happy to arrange a free flight so the patient can attend a new appointment."

Meanwhile, Jags boss Ian McCall is looking forward to the season-opener in the Challenge Cup against Queen's Park tomorrow.

He said: "Gardner Speirs has a hard job after losing so many players, but if anyone can do it he can. It will be very important that our attitude is spot on."