Fulham captain Chris Coleman has told the Daily Mirror how relieved he is to have kicked a ball again after the dreadful car crash that placed his career in jeopardy.

The popular defender suffered two badly broken legs after crashing his car in Surrey in January but received a significant boost last week when he was allowed to begin ball work having made a swifter than expected recovery from his injuries.

The Welsh international said:

“I can’t tell you how good it felt. It was the sort of day that made me think nothing is going to stop me getting back. If I have to retire from the game I will be devastated, but I will also know I couldn’t have done any more. In the last nine months I have had two or three dreams when I am back in my car but I wake up each time before I crash. But I am lucky, I could have died.”