Fulham Football Club News

• Nickname:Cottagers
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin Jol

• Ground:Craven Cottage
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Coleman boosts Bullard

27 Sep 2006 - 11:05:32

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Fulham manager Chris Coleman is hoping to boost midfielder Jimmy Bullard's comeback with tales of his own fight to overcome career-threatening injuries.

Former Wales centre-half Coleman sustained serious leg injuries in a car crash in January 2001 and eventually had to end his playing days early, before moving into coaching and then management with the Cottagers.

Bullard will be out for the rest of the season after suffering a dislocated kneecap and ligament damage in the 2-1 win at Newcastle earlier this month and Coleman hopes he can help his player through some tough times.

He told the Daily Express: "I told him I broke my ankle, I smashed my fibula in 16 different places, and had a compound fracture of my tibia and I ruptured my cruciate and medial ligaments, but still got back to the fringes of the first team.

"But he has to get his head round it and accept that this is going to be his life for the next nine months, set himself a target.

"I was out for two years in total and for 18 months I was by myself in the gym looking out on to the pitch watching the guys training and having a laugh.

"Psychologically that's very draining."