Running out at Wembley.. 73 days after doctors told him he had a broken neck
JONATHAN HOGG had “never felt pain like it” when he sustained a suspected broken neck 10 weeks ago.
But, remarkably, he will be running out at Wembley on Monday hoping for the best moment of his sporting life.
Lying on the pitch at Bristol City after a collision with team-mate Mark Hudson, he feared for his career. The match was delayed 14 minutes as he was treated and taken to hospital immobilised in a neck brace.
The next day, Huddersfield confirmed he was stable but would miss the rest of the season, only for medics a fortnight later to admit that the injury was not as serious as first thought.
The 28-year-old’s recovery has nonetheless been amazing and the “scary” memories of his injury will make the Championship playoff final against Reading, a clash dubbed “the £170million match, even more enjoyable.
He said: “I certainly feel lucky to be playing,
“I thought my season was done when I got that bad injury. It was really scary. When the doctors and the specialists said I had fractured my spine, I didn’t have a clue what to think.
“I was worried about my career. I knew the season was definitely going to be over. When I got the injury I had pain that I had never felt before. It was scary. I felt something really serious.”
Over the next few days and weeks midfielder Hogg was “checked and checked again” by medics and, as the pain subsided, got the all-clear.
“I’ve seen four or five specialists now and they’ve told me to crack on. I can’t believe my luck – I thought the season was definitely done.
“We were doing so well and we were going to be there or thereabouts, pushing for automatic promotion, or at least getting into the play-offs. It was a big reality check and it just scares you more than anything.” Teesside-born Hogg (left) has been vital for Town this season, playing 42 games and nine since his injury. He said the pressure of playing in the £170million match has been eased by having a “second chance.” He added: “I don’t think about any pressure that much because I’m just so glad to be back playing. One minute it was gone, and the next I’m back in the mix.” Hogg was part of play-off drama at Watford, who beat Leicester in the semi-final four years ago. He recalled: “They got a penalty in the last minute and Manuel Almunia made a double save – then we went to the other end and scored, I have never felt anything like that before. That’s got to be my best moment in football. “One minute your dreams have been shattered. Then all of a sudden you are down the other end and you have 25,000 people running on the pitch at the same time. “I assisted the goal and it was pretty magic for me. “If we d o make that final step on Monday, 100 per cent it will top that. “We all want to play in the Premier League. That’s why you play football, to play at the highest level.”