Source: Daily_Mail
Achilles toll: How players have fared after suffering same injury as Becks
Achilles injuries have had a devastating effect on the careers of several big-name footballers. [LNB]Perhaps the most high profile was John Barnes. The Liverpool winger ruptured his achilles tendon in England's last warm-up before Euro '92 - a 2-1 friendly win against Finland in Helsinki.[LNB] It took Barnes, then 28, five months to return to the Liverpool side and he lost the blistering pace that had characterised his game. The midfielder was left with a six-inch scar and, 18 years on, said his injured calf was still an inch and a half shorter than his good leg. [LNB] Agony: John Barnes lost his lightning-fast running ability after his achilles injury[LNB]Barnes added: 'You never really get that muscle back, but I relied on my pace and David never did, so I don't think it will necessarily impair his ability.' [LNB]Others to have suffered from tendon trouble include: Yakubu: The Everton striker (right), then 26, ruptured his achilles playing against Tottenham in November 2008 and did not start a Premier League match until October 2009. [LNB]Mark Lawrenson: Aged just 30, the Liverpool defender snapped an achilles tendon in March 1988 and retired prematurely from football. [LNB]Neil Webb: The midfielder, then 26, snapped an Achilles tendon in action for England - just four games after a £1.5million move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United in 1989. [LNB]Webb was never the same player again, moving back to Forest in 1992 and suffering another achilles injury before dropping down the League with moves to Swindon, Grimsby and Aldershot. [LNB] David Beckham out for six months after surgery while Fabio Capello hopes to have star fit for Euro 2012 qualifiersMARTIN SAMUEL: England should take David Beckham to the World Cup as a cheerleaderDavid Beckham WILL be back: Star vows to play on for England as Achilles op saves careerDavid Beckham's England milestones: Sportsmail looks back on his international career after midfield star is ruled out of World Cup [LNB][LNB]
