Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton FC striker Louis Saha uses leeches to help knee injury rehabilitation
Louis Saha 300[LNB]LOUIS SAHA has revealed how blood-sucking leeches have helped to ease his long-standing knee injury.[LNB]The Everton striker, who is set to play for France in tomorrow night's opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus in Paris, insists having the ancient treatment has paid dividends.[LNB]Leeches' saliva acts as an anti-inflammatory and applying them to his knees has enabled the 32-year-old to secure a return to the international squad.[LNB]'You're never going to believe how I treated my swollen knees,' Saha said.[LNB] 'I went to visit my grandparents, who live in Guadeloupe, and I put leeches on my knees.[LNB]'Since then I have had a knee that is not normal, but given what happened before to my ligaments I have to accept it. It swells up less and I feel fine now.'[LNB]Saha, who has not played for France since November 2006, is desperate to feature in Laurent Blanc's first competitive game in charge tomorrow.[LNB]'My luck has been terrible in the past,' he added. 'I would be fine for six months, then the day the France squad would be announced I'd get injured. It has been hard to take. I would not wish a similar fate on anyone and I have struggled to overcome these setbacks.[LNB]'But I'm well prepared both mentally and physically now. I have the legs and hunger of a 20-year-old.'
