Heartbreaking is the only word to use.
Alan Judge was one of the players we were most looking forward to seeing play their way into our Euro 2016 squad.
The Brentford man was easily one of the stars of the Championship this season, and was likely to be taking his place on the plane to France in June.
However, a horrific tackle in a club game against Ipswich earlier this month has left the Dubliner with a shattered leg, and ruled out of action until October at the earliest.
Speaking in The Irish Times, Judge bears no ill-will to Luke Hyam, who committed the late and dangerous challenge, but has described in gory details the impact, and devastation, he felt once he knew his Euro 2016 dream, was over thanks to a tibia and fibula fracture.
“The minute it happened I knew the leg was broken. I couldn’t describe the pain; just pure pressure. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. I looked down at the other one and there was blood all over my left knee where he’d made the initial contact.
“It was strange. I didn’t quite understand. There was all this blood on my left knee but I knew from the pain that it was my right leg that was broken. I knew that before they told me.”
Judge was inconsolable as he left the field, and admits that his mind turned to his family, and the possibility that the leg-break could signal an end to his football career.
However, the medical team has assured him that it was a clean break – one that he would be able to fully recover from – as there was no damage done to his ankle in the challenge that could have complicated the healing process.
The 27-year-old was linked with a move to Premier League club this summer but that ambition now likely to go unfulfilled until he returns to full fitness.
Judges recuperation time is likely to be between six and nine months and he is hopeful that he will get a move soon, but for now his focus is on Brentford and regaining his full fitness.
“I’ll still get the move at some stage but I don’t want to be disrespectful. My focus now is on getting back playing for Brentford – they’ve been looking after me very well.”
We can only wish him the very best.
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