AFC Bournemouth left-back Charlie Daniels’ career is far from certain, but the 33-year-old remains positive despite having to battle back from a second severe knee injury over the course of the past twelve months.
In August 2019, Daniels crumbled to the floor after attempting a cross against Manchester City.
Daniels was stretchered off the pitch and it was announced that he had suffered a suspected dislocated patella (kneecap) in his right knee, which was later confirmed following a scan.
It was just four months after he had suffered a similar injury after dislocating the patella in his left knee.
He had surgery to repair the knee and also had stem cell treatment in January, as part of his rehabilitation and treatment.
Daniels told afcb.co.uk…
“I had an injection at the start of January and they took stem cells from my hip bone.
“When I first sustained the injury, a bit of cartilage came off the back of my kneecap. They grow the stem cells in the lab and they provide growth hormones which help heal all the damage in the knee.”
Since that treatment, he has been able to step up his progress through training.
“I did two running sessions on the AlterG, an anti-gravity treadmill. Everything feels fine and there was no reaction.
“My leg feels great so I’m going to persevere with that and then look to get back on the pitch.
“The AlterG lets you decide how much body weight you want to put through the knee and, at the moment, I’m on 60 per cent.
“You look to increase it week by week so, hopefully, it will go quite quickly and I’ll be on 100 per cent very soon.
Obviously Daniels treatment is at the cutting edge of medical science and rehabilitation and Daniels feels very fortunate that at 33-year-old, these injuries do not mean an end to your career.
He also spoke to the Daily Echo and added…
“He’s (AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe) very knowledgeable about what happened because obviously he went through it himself.
“Luckily for me I think the advancement of the surgery and stuff like that I think has really helped because I don’t think he had the same sort of stuff around him that could actually get him back to playing to the way that he wanted to.
“So for me, I’m just fortunate I’m in the era that I am in and I can get back and play.”
Charlie Daniels contract is due to expire during the summer of 2020.
Your say…
thegazzyb wrote…
…looks like Charlie Daniels is well along the road to recovery, chuffed for him. – Join the conversation, click here.
