Yesterday, during the second half, there was a sickening collision between our own Dickson Etuhu and Phillip Neville.
As soon as it happened Neville was obviously in a lot of pain, there was no theatrical rolling around the pitch, he simply lay there in agony with an arm raised.
Play, as the law now states, wasn`t stopped immediately but when it was it was obvious that Neville couldn`t continue with the Everton club doctor attending to him.
Initially, there were fears that Neville had broken his leg, something I wouldn`t wish on any player, but post match it was announced he`d just sustained a deep gash below his knee, a case of stitch that sunshine!
After the match there could well have been a case for a slanging match with David Moyes and Roy Hodgson debating the merits of what was, basically, a 50-50 ball.
Instead, whilst implying that perhaps Etuhu should have been booked and a free kick given, Moyes was gracious enough to accept that Etuhu wasn`t a malicious player, remarking,
“I don`t think he is that kind of player. He was a bit late – it merited a free kick and possibly a booking.”
Whereas Roy Hodgson simply stated something we all recognise,
“There was no intent on Dickson`s part.”
Here at Vital Fulham, we simply hope that Phillip Neville makes a swift return, however if it had of been Gary???????..
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