Ipswich Town midfielder Andre Dozzell is determined to return stronger than before after undergoing knee surgery in London yesterday.
The 18-year-old former Copleston High School pupil went from ecstasy to agony in the space of a few weeks, playing a key role for England as they won the European Under-19 Championships in July, then getting the nod for the Blues’ Championship opener against Birmingham only to damage ligaments in his right knee 45 minutes into an impressive personal display.
Town have gone to the best in the business to take care of their rising star. Surgeon Andy Williams has treated Premier League players Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll, Theo Walcott and Didier Drogba, and well as Andrew Flintoff (cricket) and Lawrence Dallaglio (rugby union).
“He’s in pretty good spirits all things considered,” said Andre’s father Jason, who made more than 300 appearances for Town having started as a teenage star himself back in the 1980s.
“As a family it was soul-destroying seeing him stretchered off with gas and air. I understood it a little bit more, having been a player, but his mum was understandably in bits.
“You say all the right things to him at the time, about how he is young and he’ll come back, but that was hard for him to hear. He’s just gone from winning the Euros to possibly being out for the season and is devastated.
“As time has gone on though he has got his head around it and is thinking positively about his rehab.”
Jason continued: “The worst injury I had was when I broke my ankle and was out for six months. I know there will be dark moments for him. In those winter months it will be hard for him being stuck in the treatment room. That is when he’ll need the support network around him.
“What makes this so hard to take is that I felt like he was ready and this was going to be his year. He will come back stronger and fitter though.”
Andre wrote on Instagram: “Tunnel vision. I will only come back stronger and hungrier than ever.”
Town striker David McGoldrick dedicated his two Carabao Cup goals at Luton Town to Dozzell last week, saying: “I’ve told him he will play in the Premier League. This is only a small stumbling block. He’ll come back stronger and have a fantastic career, I know that.”
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