While we are preoccupied by our own injury problems, perhaps we could spare a thought for a lad who could well have playing for us now instead of still whiling away the weeks in the treatment room. This report is on YahooSports:

Leeds' forgotten striker Michael Bridges is to fly to America next week to seek specialist advice on his ongoing knee injury.

The 23-year-old has been out of action for almost a year since damaging his ankle in Leeds' CL match against Besiktas last October, and was forced to undergo surgery on his knee in the summer after damaging it attempting to make his comeback.

Leeds have now decided to seek the advice of Dr Richard Steadman, the surgeon who put Newcastle's Alan Shearer's career back on track. "Michael went out training a few weeks ago and aggravated his knee injury," said Leeds boss David O'Leary. "He is now flying to Colorado to see Richard Steadman who is the specialist who treated Alan Shearer, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Jamie Redknapp. It is touch and go whether he will require further treatment or an operation. If it is surgery then he will stay out there and get it done as quickly as possible.

"He is devastated, particularly after he did so unbelievably well to fight his way back from his other injury. Right now he just wants to get on and find out finally what needs doing.

"As he is so young and you are dealing with a first class player, you can't take any chances. It's not as if he is 32 years old. He's got a great career ahead of him and you have to make sure you get it right" O'Leary told the club's official website.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Answers

Always a shame to see a young player hit by a long injury. I really do hope he pulls through this latest injury - just in time to take over from Shearer when he becomes the next boss ;-))

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001