Derby County skipper Shaun Barker aiming for 'emotional' return to action
CLUB captain Shaun Barker remains as determined as ever to pull on a Derby County shirt again.
It is a year next week since he suffered an horrific knee injury in the victory over Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.
His return to action is still some time away.
A spell of at least 18 months out was always likely given the full scale of the damage within the knee.
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He dislocated his knee cap and ruptured medial ligaments, anterior cruciate ligaments and posterior cruciate ligaments.
Reconstruction surgery on his shattered right knee also revealed damage to the patella femoral ligament.
Barker's journey on the long road to recovery still has many months to run but he is driven by the thought of playing at Pride Park again.
"That will be an emotional moment and my proudest moment in football," he said.
Barker will not be fit for the start of next season.
If his recovery does take 18 months, that will mean around October at the very earliest but it could be longer.
When asked about Barker's progress, manager Nigel Clough said: "We are not going to put pressure on him. He will be back as and when the medical people, the surgeons and the specialists say he is OK to return."
Barker admits that he had harboured hopes, initially, of being back for a game or two at the end of this season.
"I was a little bit naive to think that, but when I was first told it would be 18 months I thought that was a bit excessive," he said.
"Then I started to realise it was going to be at least 18 months.
"And when I do return, it will take me some time to get back into the swing of things."
A specialist will fly in from the United States in the next few weeks to see Barker and assist with his rehabilitation.
"He has worked with NFL players who have had a similar type of injury and he might have one or two different ideas to help my rehab," said Barker.
6 Comments
by Felixco
Thursday, April 11 2013, 3:04PM
“Best wishes Sean”
by Derby_Stu
Monday, March 11 2013, 9:31AM
“SOS Barker, we need you back now! Get well and look forward to seeing you back in a rams shirt next season!”
by knawrybred
Saturday, March 09 2013, 12:46PM
“ibelieveido, he would get a good from the famous team supporters as well, remember he is a secret forest fan,! LOLs, also don't forget we've got our billy back so three points will be little harder take of us next time! If you are still open for business that is (40mill in debt)?”
by QUIT_MOANING
Saturday, March 09 2013, 11:45AM
“Shaun you are an absolute model professional. I bet the people who know you rate you high in the extreme. It will be like a new signing when you return..... and nobody will expect too much for the first half hour lol.... But seriously mate keep up the good work.”
by ibelieveido
Saturday, March 09 2013, 10:07AM
“With the determination this guy has i see him back
playing b4 Xmas...
You will get the best reception EVER when you walk
out on that P.P.Pitch Shaun.
Wouldn't it be ironic if it was against the Red Bogs as
we beat em again....eh-eh-eh-eh.”
by knawrybred
Saturday, March 09 2013, 8:35AM
“Good luck to the guy, I had just the patella ligament rupture and it was 12 months, to have all the damage he has had will be a long recovery, might not be the same again? But all the best.”