I ALMOST LOST MY LEG
Gunners’ Cazorla reveals full horror of ankle injury
SANTI CAZORLA was told his ankle injury might have led to his leg being amputated after an infection ate eight centimetres of his Achilles tendon.
He had to have a skin graft to help repair the damage – and now part of the tattoo he had on his right arm appears on his ankle. The 32-yearold, who has not played for Arsenal since October 2016 and has had eight operations, has admitted to crying in pain as he tried to battle the injury – which first occurred in 2013 – while continuing to turn out for the Gunners.
“In the early stages, it was feeling a little better, if I got warmed up I could play but at the break when I cooled STEVEN FINN’S Ashes tour remains in the balance after England confirmed they will keep tabs on his freak knee injury over the next week before deciding whether to send him home from Australia.
Finn, called up as a replacement for Ben Stokes, was hurt in Perth on Thursday when he struck himself with his own bat while playing a shot in the nets.
Both the Middlesex fast bowler and all-rounder Moeen Ali, who has a sore left side, have been ruled out of the opening two tour matches in Perth, which started overnight, and in Adelaide next week.
But while England confirmed Moeen is expected to start training again a week before the Ashes opener in Brisbane on November 23, Finn’s chances remain in the balance.
An England statement said: “Finn will be monitored by the England medical department over the next seven days and a further decision on his fitness will be made at that time.
“Moeen Ali has aggravated his left side. He will miss the first two tour matches. He is expected to return to full training by mid-November ahead of the tour match in Townsville starting on November 15.”
Finn’s injury may mean a Test debut for Craig Overton.