The whole footballing world is praying for Andre Gomes after his horrific injury yesterday.
The Everton midfielder suffered a horrific ankle injury after a combination of contact from Son Heung-min and Serge Aurier, the former of which was sent off by Martin Atkinson.
Worst Premier League injuries
Sadly, it wasn’t the first injury of the likes in Premier League history and it probably won’t be the last, but old examples could serve as an indicator for Gomes’ recovery.
As a result, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the worst injuries in England’s top division since 1992 and assess the implications for each player’s career.
1.Gary Mabbutt – almost lost his eye (1993)
Recovery time: Three months
Mabbutt shockingly suffered a fractured skull and eye socket after an accidental elbow from John Fashanu, requiring the insertion of a metal plate into his cheek and two hours of surgery to save his eye.
Even after a quarter of a year on the sidelines, Mabbutt – who considered legal action against Fashanu – needed to wear a protective mask when he returned to Premier League action.
2.David Busst – double leg fracture (1996)
Recovery time: Never played again
Widely regarded as the worst Premier League injury in history and for good reason. Busst’s collision with Denis Irwin was so extreme that his cracked fibula bone pierced the skin.
Peter Schmeichel was so horrified that he vomited on the pitch and Busst remains thankful that he avoided a leg amputation.
3.Luc Nilis – double leg fracture (2000)
Recovery time: Never played again
In just his third game for Villa, the highly-rated forward – who Ronaldo named one of his greatest ever strike partners – suffered a career-ending double fracture after colliding with Richard Wright.
There was concern that Nilis would need an amputation after injury became infected and, although that wasn’t the case, he was forced to hang up his boots shortly after.
4.Alf-Inge Haaland – horrific knee injury (2001)
Recovery time: A few days (technically)
Arguably the most infamous injury on the list. In what appeared a revenge tackle by Roy Keane after a 1997 collision, Haaland actually played for Norway and City in the proceeding weeks.
But the tackle was attributed for one of the reasons Haaland was forced to retire early in 2003 and it was even suggested that he would sue the United midfielder.
5.Djibril Cisse – broken tibia and fibula (2004)
Recovery time: Seven months
The luckless Frenchman suffered a broken tibia and fibula against Blackburn Rovers after catching his studs in the turf, but made a miraculous recovery to return less than seven months later.
However, Cisse disastrously suffered an almost identical leg break just two years later during a friendly between France and China.
6.Pedro Mendes – knocked out and suffered seizure (2006)
Recovery time: Discharged the next day
Mendes was knocked out cold by Ben Thatcher’s elbow, sending him hurtling into advertising hoardings and prompting medical officials to rush him to hospital.
The Portsmouth man was released from hospital the next day, but had suffered a seizure in the ambulance and Thatcher was justly banned for six games.
7.Petr Cech – depressed skull fracture (2006)
Recovery time: Three months
Widely known as the reason Cech has worn protective headgear ever since, the then Chelsea goalkeeper almost died after a controversial collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt.
Pieces of bone went deeply into Cech’s head, there were initial suspicions of a blood clot on the brain and two metal plates were hastily fitted.
8.Eduardo – broken leg and dislocated ankle (2008)
Recovery time: One year
Sky Sports correctly refused to show footage of this horrific leg break at Birmingham City, which was caused by the duly red-carded Martin Taylor, who Arsene Wenger suggested should be banned for life.
Eduardo’s leg is believed to have penetrated his sock and there are even suggestions that he could have lost his foot if the tackle was any harder.
9.Aaron Ramsey – double leg break (2010)
Recovery time: Eight months
Everybody on the pitch was left distraught when the extent of Ramsey’s 2010 leg break became clear, while a remorseful Ryan Shawcross also left the pitch after being dismissed for the tackle.
It was the second horrific injury at Arsenal in the space of two years and everyone was delighted to see the Welshman back and better than ever less than a year later.
10.Hatem Ben Arfa – double leg break (2010)
Recovery time: Eight months
Just four games into his time in the Premier League, Ben Arfa was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and needed oxygen after a challenge from Nigel de Jong.
The Frenchman underwent surgery at the Manchester Royal Infirmary in the proceedings days and his left leg was just as powerful by the time he pulled on the Newcastle jersey again.
