Personal injury news

International football star suffers serious head injury

Nigeria and West Bromwich Albion striker Kanu Nwankwo is likely to miss the start of the African Nation’s Cup tournament in Egypt after suffering a serious head injury.

The 29-year-old former Arsenal and Inter Milan goalscorer had to be x-rayed following a collision during West Brom ’s FA Cup draw with Reading, and results revealed that he had sustained a depressed fracture to his skull.

Kanu has been declared safe from any possible brain injury, released from hospital and is already fighting to regain his fitness. He will meet up with the Nigerian national squad as they prepare to challenge for the African footballing crown, but doctors have ordered that he must wait for his head injury to heal properly before playing again. As a result, he is unlikely to be available for selection for his country’s opening game against Ghana on 23rd January, 2006.

The head injury could not have come at a worse time for Kanu, who is on top form this season and has already hit five goals for West Brom, including a brace against Tottenham in December. The striker’s injury is one rarely seen in football, but somewhat unluckily his Baggies team-mate, Neil Clement, suffered almost exactly the same head injury only a week ago.

West Bromwich Albion manager Bryan Robson commented, “What’s happened with Clem and Kanu is unbelievable. To have suffered two of these injuries in the space of five days is unheard of.”

In addition to his recent head injury, Kanu has suffered from high-profile heart problems throughout his career, and while not allowing it to affect his game, he has set up a charity to help others who are suffering from heart disease.

Find out more at www.kanuheartfoundation.com