Fulham captain Chris Coleman has admitted for the first time that his professional career might be over. Coleman broke his right leg in three places and badly damaged his ankle and knee after his sports car careered off the road and smashed into a tree in January.
Coleman has undergone six operations, including a bone graft to repair his tibia, and the Welsh international defender is preparing himself for the worst. He said: "The doctors say the tibia is a notoriously bad bone to heal. If I am told I won't play again, I'll just have to accept the decision.
"My hope remains to play again by the end of next season.
"I have always been strong mentally and I am confident no matter how long it takes, I will recover.
"I am only 31 and have time on my side. If I had been 33 or 34, then I would have had no chance."
Coleman has experienced serious injury worries before, having been out for almost twelve months with a ruptured Achilles tendon during his time at Blackburn. "I proved them wrong when I was at Blackburn and I can do so again," he said.
"Nothing would please me more than to be able to stick two fingers up at the doubters."
Filed by Greg McKevitt
