Cookie Coleman prepares for the worst
        last updated Friday 15th June 2001, 11:25 AM
        
            
	
   
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        Fulham captain Chris Coleman has admitted 
      for the first time that his professional career might be over. 
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            ahead punk make my day! picture
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 The Welsh international defender, who has just turned 31, has been battling 
      to regain fitness after suffering serious leg injuries when his sports car 
      careered off the road and smashed into a tree in January.
 
 Coleman has undergone six operations after his right leg was broken in three 
      places and his ankle and knee also badly damaged.
 
 The latest surgery was a bone graft to repair his tibia, but Coleman is 
      preparing himself for the worst.
 
 He said: "The doctors say the tibia is a notoriously bad bone to heal. 
      If I am told I won't play again, I'll just have to accept the decision. 
      "My hope remains to play again by the end of next season. "I have 
      always been strong mentally and I am confident no matter how long it takes, 
      I will recover. "I am only 31 and have time on my side. If I had been 
      33 or 34, then I would have had no chance."
 
 Coleman can draw comfort from the fact that he made a successful return 
      after being out for almost 12 months with a ruptured Achilles tendon during 
      his time at Blackburn.
 
 Coleman said "I proved them wrong when I was at Blackburn and I can 
      do so again."Nothing would please me more than to be able to stick 
      two fingers up at the doubters."
 
 Fulham will be playing in the top flight for the first time since 1968 next 
      season after winning the First Division title in May.
 
 
 
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            Source daily express   
        
 
                    
				 
				
				    
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