I feared head injury could happen again, says Castagne

LEICESTER City full-back Timothy Castagne has opened up on the injury that nearly ended his career in the summer, writes Jordan Blackwell.

Castagne was involved in a clash of heads just 25 minutes into Belgium’s first match at the European Championships, suffering a multiple fracture of his eye socket that required a six-hour reconstructive surgery.

Had the impact been three centimetres higher, he could have lost his sight and suffered neurological damage.

After a period of recovery, Castagne returned to action at the end of August, initially wearing a protective mask but now going without.

He has said that people did not realised how serious the injury was and that he was initially troubled by thoughts of it happening again.

“Here in England, they thought it was less severe than it actually was,” he said.

“I think the first thing that comes to mind when you come back on the pitch is: ‘Is it going to happen again?’

“So I thought I would have some apprehensions. But fortunately I didn’t.

“I was happy to come back, especially when you see the boys play, and when you see the national team at the Euros and you can’t be part of it, you just want to play.

“I’m just happy to play again. It could have been worse. I’m just trying to enjoy it.”

Since his comeback, Castagne has featured in all of City’s Premier League and Europa League games, four times as a starter and three times off the bench as he competes for the spot on the right side of defence with Ricardo Pereira.

He has been one of City’s more consistent performers, while his forthright assessments of the club’s displays has seen his reputation with fans grow.

Castagne is now with Belgium as they compete in the Nations League finals.

His main rival for a wing-back spot, Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier, is injured so he is set to play a prominent role.

If Belgium face France in the semi-final tomorrow, they will take on Italy or Spain in Sunday’s final.