‘I didn't know whether I'd walk properly again' – James Milner opens up on injury hell as he plans to play into his 40s
JAMES MILNER feared he may never walk again after suffering nerve damage during an operation.
The former England international missed the lion's share of the 2024/25 season for Brighton after having surgery following a knee injury last August.
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A nerve, however, ended up being damaged during his knee reconstruction and left him unable to lift his feet or toes.
The 39-year-old recalled: 'I had a contact injury in training before the Arsenal game on my knee.
'It was stable and we gave it a go and my hamstring reacted.
"I had a knee operation and knee reconstruction, which was fine and I would have been back at the start of December.
'But in the operation, a nerve got damaged. After the operation, I couldn't lift my foot or my toes.
"The first time I saw any flicker of life was the 31st of December.
Milner's road to recovery has been a long and arduous one, to say the least.
He continued: 'It's been a long, tough road. The medical staff have been incredible, [club physio] Sean Duggan has been absolutely unbelievable.
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'There was a chance I might not have come back at all. I didn't know if I could walk normally again, never mind play football.
"But, thankfully, the hard work's paid off. And to get on the field today [Sunday] with the boys and see them turn it around in the second half and be a part of that was special.
My dad was in same England squad as James Milner before injury heartbreak - now I'm making my own way in Premier League
'I've been on the grass for a good few months now, but I just need to be careful with contact.
"I've just run out of time. If the season was next week, I think I would have been fit from now on.
'It's not age-related, it's just one chance in however many thousand.
"It was just a bit of bad luck after starting the season well and feeling good.'
Milner returned to action on the final day of the season last weekend, in which Brighton romped to a 4-1 win over Europa League winners Tottenham.
And the veteran is hoping to earn a new contract at the Amex, which will see him play top-flight football at the ripe old age of 40.
He said: "I started the season well, I look at my fitness now and I feel good.
I didn't know if I could walk normally again, never mind play football."
James Milner
"Coming on against Tottenham, I would like to keep playing, I've definitely got another year left in me.
"I think we're quite close, so it will be nice to be here and be part of the team and help the boys.
'You look at the season we have had. We have good players and good results.
"But there have been times when we've dropped points and shouldn't have done. You need a bit of experience.
'You look at the players that have come in, the likes of Mats Wieffer and Brajan Gruda, difficult coming to a new team and country.
"But look how good they've been in last few weeks. It takes time.
'I'm excited for next year for sure. Hopefully I can be a part of it."
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