Latest news with #SeanDuggan
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘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. 3 3 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. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 '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."
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
James Milner opens up on nine-month absence: ‘I didn't know if I could walk properly again'
James Milner has opened up over the freak knee surgery complication that left him unable to move his foot for months and fearing he would not walk normally, let alone return to football. The 39-year-old Brighton midfielder made an emotional comeback as a late substitute at Tottenham on Sunday after nine months out – it took him to 638 Premier League appearances; Gareth Barry holds the competition record with 653. Milner has it in his sights because he is close to signing a one-year contract extension, with the Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler, making it clear that he values his experience and leadership. However, Milner was more keen to reflect on the journey he has taken since being forced off at Arsenal last August in the third game of the league season. He needed a knee reconstruction and the idea was for him to return in early December. That was before he sustained nerve damage to a tendon during the procedure. 'After the operation, I couldn't lift my foot or my toes,' Milner said. 'December 31 was the first time I saw any flicker of life. It [the complication] wasn't age-related. It was just a bit of bad luck – one in however many thousand. 'There was a chance I might not have come back at all. I didn't know whether I could walk properly again let alone play football. I don't think many people would have come back from this. The medical staff have been incredible, Sean Duggan [the Brighton physiotherapist] has been absolutely unbelievable. We worked hard and the hard work's paid off. To be part of it on the pitch again made it all worthwhile.' Milner was asked whether any medics had told him he might have to retire. 'Nobody said quit the game,' he replied. 'There were obviously doubts from some people that I would get back but nobody said quit it. Not many people have had this and with my age it was highly unlikely I would get back. But I think that was one of the things that drove me most.' Milner turns 40 in January and he is determined to have an impact next season in what would be his 24th in the Premier League. This time out, he became the first player to play in 23 seasons in the competition. He made his debut for Leeds as a 16-year-old at West Ham in November 2002. 'I would like to keep playing,' he said. 'I've definitely got another year left in me. 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.'
