Injury heartache goes on for Fulham’s Johnson

February 3, 2010

Andy Johnson, Fulham’s former England striker, will be out of action for at least three weeks with a knee injury that is threatening to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Johnson, who has made only 13 appearances in the current campaign as a result of a dislocated collarbone and a groin strain, is to have exploratory surgery to determine the gravity of the injury.

“If they find that the problem is as major as it could possibly be, then he would need an operation that would keep him out for the rest of the season,” Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said, adding that the 28-year-old had been “shattered” by the latest setback.

“If we’re lucky and the major operation is not needed, and it’s something wrong with the cartilage, then he might be back earlier.

“At the moment we’re talking three to four weeks, and the worst-case scenario is the rest of the season and him being fit to join us in pre-season.”

Hodgson is already without Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera because of their knee injuries and he admitted he would not have let Diomansy Kamara go to Celtic on loan earlier this week if he had been aware of Johnson’s latest problem.

“One of the reasons why we let Diomansy go was because we didn’t think the problem with Andy was anywhere near as grave,” Hodgson said.

“I was concerned that I would not be able to give Diomansy regular games, so when a club of Celtic’s stature comes in for him, it is very difficult for me to say ‘you have to stay’.”

Hodgson added: “Andy is shattered. He’s devastated. If it’s as serious as it could turn out to be, it needs to be put right for the start of next season.”

Fulham were due to face the Premier League’s bottom side, Portsmouth, on Wednesday with the west London club aiming to end a run of five straight defeats.

“At the moment I can divorce performances from results, but if you keep losing you will get dragged down there and get into a relegation battle,” Hodgson warned.

“I’m hoping that won’t happen and in the not-too-distant future we will have a squad of players together who are more competitive than we currently are.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Andy, Andy Johnson, bottom side, cartilage, Clint Dempsey, dislocated collarbone, distant future, England, exploratory surgery, fulham, groin strain, knee injuries, knee injury, latest setback, least three weeks, london, london club, Portsmouth, premier league, relegation battle, roy hodgson, stature, west london, worst case scenario, zoltan, zoltan gera

Crash victim Cudicini to make full recovery, say Spurs

November 16, 2009

Tottenham say goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is expected to make a full recovery after surgery on injuries he suffered in an horrific motorbike crash.

The 36-year-old Italian hit a car on Thursday while driving through east London, fracturing his wrist and damaging his pelvis.

The former Chelsea star was operated on at a private hospital on Friday and his north London club believe he is on course for a full recovery from an accident initially described as “life-changing” by ambulance staff.

Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond said on Sunday: “It’s going to take some time, he will be on crutches for a period of time and no doubt he’ll be in hospital for a good few days yet,” Bond told Sky Sports News.

“Obviously it’s such good news that all being well he will make a full recovery.

“At this moment no-one is going to put any type of time span on it – we are just glad to know that he’s well.

“That’s the most important thing and hopefully he’ll be back putting his boots on and his gloves on in the not so distant future.”

A female driver and a child passenger escaped unharmed from the car involved in the accident, which was described as a ‘write off’.

LONDON (AFP)