Grant chasing glory after ‘scary’ illness
FOOTBALL: Perth Glory defender Alex Grant has opened up on his health and injury troubles of last season, revealing a dash to hospital during the most trying period of his career.
Grant will line up in the heart of the Glory’s defence in today’s clash against newcomers Western United in Geelong.
Trying to contain United duo Besart Berisha and Scott McDonald is daunting, but nothing compared to Grant’s challenges last season.
He struggled to walk at times while battling a groin injury during the early and middle parts of Perth’s campaign, but his nightmare worsened when he was hit with a serious bout of glandular fever on the eve of his intended playing return.
The illness robbed him of the chance to play in the Glory’s finals campaign.
“We trained on the day of the game ... and I felt absolutely awful,” Grant said.
“They sent me to hospital that night for some tests. Then they sent me back to Perth, and I deteriorated ... and I ended up having to spend the night in hospital ... because my condition had worsened and it had started to affect my liver.
“My white blood cell count was really low and my liver function test was all over the shop. It was pretty scary.
“I was bedridden for three weeks after that happened. I couldn’t do any physical exercise for three months.”
Grant revealed he lost 5kg during the ordeal and spent much of the pre-season rebuilding his body.
But his perseverance paid off, with the 25-year-old saying it was a dream to return in last week’s season-opener against Brisbane, which ended in a 1-1 draw.