Hoddle set for ‘full recovery’
KASPER Schmeichel addressed distraught Leicester City teammates and the club’s staff in a private ceremony for the helicopter crash victims yesterday.
Owner and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed in the crash on Saturday night.
Shell-shocked players regrouped yesterday in a series of touching ceremonies at the training ground and the King Power Stadium.
Denmark international Schmeichel, in particular, has been emotionally shattered.
Not only was he one of the closest of the players to the owner but he also saw the helicopter engulfed in flames when he ran out of the stadium after the game with West Ham.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper and manager Claude Puel both made speeches to the players and staff at the Belvoir Drive training ground as the club came together in grief. Players reported in as normal although no training was scheduled.
Then every member of staff at the complex was called together for a moment of reflection for the crash victims, who also included pilot Eric Swaffer, co-pilot and partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz and Srivaddhanaprabha’s assistants Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.
Schmeichel, Puel and club physio Dave Rennie said a few words and players were then left to choose what they wanted to do. Grief counsellors were in attendance for anyone GLENN HODDLE is on course to make a “full recovery” after suffering a heart attack.
The former Tottenham and England midfielder, who also managed England from 1996-1999, collapsed on Saturday at the BT Sport studios on his 61st birthday.
Hoddle was given CPR by TV engineer Simon Daniels and has since had heart surgery to put in three stents.
It has been reported that Hoddle is sitting up at St Bartholomew’s hospital in Smithfield and is able to talk to his family. “All the indications are that he is responding well to the treatment and could make a full recovery in the course of time,” a close friend said.
“He had a good night’s sleep and was talking on Sunday.
“He has had major heart surgery.
“He’s going to take some time to recover but there are no signs of brain damage and there are signs he is going to make a full recovery.”
A statement which was released on behalf of the family said Hoddle remained in a “serious condition” but that he “continues to respond well to treatment.” GRANIT XHAKA admitted he had been caught out by Wilfried Zaha as Arsenal threw away two points at Crystal Palace.
The Gunners failed to secure a 12th win in a row on Sunday as Zaha fell under Xhaka’s challenge and Luka Milivojevic put away the penalty for a 2-2 draw.
Xhaka, right, said: “It was a clear penalty. I came too late.”