James Milner: I feared I'd never walk properly again
James Milner has said he is close to agreeing a new contract to stay at Brighton & Hove Albion after recovering from nerve damage that left him unable to lift his foot.
The 39-year-old had doubts about ever being able to walk properly again after he damaged a nerve following an operation on his knee.
Even though Milner had not played since the end of August, Fabian Hürzeler, the Brighton head coach, brought Milner on against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as a gesture of gratitude for the midfielder's contributions this season.
'I didn't know whether I could walk properly again let alone play football again,' Milner said. 'It's been a long road. I had a contact injury in training before the Arsenal game on my knee.
'It was stable but then my hamstring went. It looked like there was a problem with my hamstring but there was nothing wrong with my hamstring. I had a knee operation and knee reconstruction.
'It was fine and I would have been back at the start of December but then a nerve got damaged. After the operation I couldn't lift my foot or my toes. December 31 was the first time I saw any flicker of life. It was literally a tendon.
'It's been a long, tough road and it drove me on. I don't think many people would have probably come back from this.'
Milner, who joined Brighton in 2023 on a free transfer after eight years at Liverpool, says he would have been fit 'next week' if the season was continuing.
He wants to stay with Brighton for what would be his 24th campaign in the Premier League, and one in which he would turn 40.
'I think this season's been frustrating. I started the season well, I look at my fitness now and I feel good,' he said. 'Coming on today, I would like to keep playing, I've definitely got another year left in me. I think we're in talks with the club and quite close so it will be nice to be here and be part of the team and help the boys.'
Brighton's 4-1 victory over Tottenham meant they ended the season in eighth, which was their second best finish in the Premier League.
'We have good players and good results but there have been times when we've dropped points and shouldn't have done,' Milner said. 'Hopefully with myself and the senior guys involved, we can keep pushing these guys.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Pressley named Dundee head coach after Brentford exit
Dundee have appointed Steven Pressley as the Scottish Premiership club's new head 51-year-old former Scotland centre-half last week left Brentford, where he had spent four years as the Premier League club's head of individual player development, saying it was time for a "new challenge".Dundee say Pressley "emerged as the standout candidate" after "a thorough and comprehensive search process" to find a successor to Tony Docherty, who was sacked despite leading his side to safety from relegation on the final day of the season. More to follow.
Daily Mirror
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Wirtz's team-mate delivers message to delight Liverpool fans amid transfer talks
Florian Wirtz's Germany colleague Niclas Fullkrug has given the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker huge plaudits as Liverpool continue to push for a move in the summer transfer window Florian Wirtz's Germany team-mate Niclas Fullkrug claims the playmaker would "definitely take Liverpool forward" - but admitted he had no update on his future despite being in camp with the Bayer Leverkusen star. The German star has continued to blossom at the BayArena and is now heavily linked with a switch to the Reds, who have leapt ahead of Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the race for his signature. An offer of £109million has been knocked back by the Bundesliga outfit, who want closer to their £125m valuation. Arne Slot is ready to attack the transfer market after barely acting in his first summer before landing the Premier League title at the first attempt. Fullkrug has played on the international stage with Wirtz, allowing him to see his talent close up, and the West Ham striker believes he would be a huge addition to the Liverpool squad, but had no updates on his situation. He said: "First of all, nothing official has been decided yet and I do not know whether that will be the case. That means you won't get any new information from me! But of course I talk to Flo a lot and we've talked about it a bit." The Hammers frontman then added: "Basically, Flo is simply an outstanding player with special qualities. I think it doesn't matter what league, as soon as you give Flo a metre too much it becomes dangerous and he can use these spaces very well. "He is also very versatile and he can use these spaces with a dribble, with a pass or even with a finish because he is so flexible. No matter where he goes I think he would work very well and even if it was Liverpool then I am sure that he would definitely bring this team forward." Liverpool look set to break the British transfer record if they do want to land Wirtz. His fee would likely have to eclipse Chelsea, who paid around £115m for Moises Caicedo in 2023. The Reds' biggest transfer in their history was their capture of Darwin Nunez back in 2022, which could yet reach £84m. There is a willingness from Leverkusen to sell Wirtz early in the window and they would be open to Liverpool including two players in any future offer. The duo being discussed are attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott and also centre-back Jarell Quansah.
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chelsea Champions League winner Salomon Kalou reveals surprising new business after retirement from football
EX-CHELSEA forward Salomon Kalou, 39, has stunned fans by revealing his new venture - running a chocolate business. The former Ivory Coast international, best known for helping the Blues lift the Champions League in 2012, has traded boots for sweet treats. 3 3 3 His brand is called Oume, named after his birthplace in the Ivory Coast with Kalou keen to emphasise the importance of his homeland in the chocolate world. He told The Telegraph in an interview: " My uncle had a cocoa farm, and I grew up around the farm. "We went to school and at the weekend we would be helping him. "Growing up, I don't remember eating chocolate and didn't know what it was. "It was expensive more of a privilege for people who can afford to buy it. "People don't know that what they produce on their farms is used for chocolate. "But we (Ivory Coast) contribute a big percentage of the world's production. We also have great footballers." The surprise career move has raised a few eyebrows among fans who remember the pacy winger's dazzling runs down the Stamford Bridge flanks - not cocoa beans and hand-tempered truffles. Kalou, who also enjoyed spells at Lille, Hertha Berlin and Botafogo, says he hopes to one day see his chocolate in some of the UK's most prestigious shops. From embarrassing Chelsea pal to interview with dad - Five times Cole Palmer stole show AFTER Conference League finals "It is a tough market with the price of cocoa increasing due to extreme weather and under-investment.' The Ivorian started and won the Champions League final with Chelsea in 2012, making a total of 254 appearances for the Blues.
