As he prepares for 400th game, he reveals: It was nearly all over for me as a teenager

LEEDS legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan has revealed he feared his career was over before it began ahead of his 400th appearance for the club.

He will become only the 14th player in Rhinos’ history to reach the landmark against Hull tonight, but that looked impossible when he suffered a serious injury as a teenager.

JJB, 36, told Mirror Sport: “I had a really bad groin injury at 18 and only played about eight games in two years.

“I pulled my adductor off the bone and had two operations on it – it slowed me right down and I lost all of my agility.

“It was a dark and really dismal time – the worst injury I’ve ever had.

“It got to the stage where I thought it was never going to get right. I was in agony at times – I couldn’t sleep on my side and when I sidestepped on the pitch it was the worst pain ever. “But through that adversity, you learn perseverance and resilience that has upheld me ever since. “In terms of going anywhere else though, there was only ever one club I wanted to play for and I’ve been fortunate enough to do that. “I really appreciate how the club gave me every opportunity to get myself right and I’d like to think that I’ve in some way contributed to return that grace.” Jones-Buchanan admits he has “only just stopped sulking” over Leeds’ last-gasp defeat by Wigan on Friday – and is now turning his attentions to Hull. He added: “They will be aiming for the top four again and have all the ingredients and potential to do that. “Winning over Leeds at home for them would be a big catalyst for that, but we’re just thinking about ourselves.”