Positive verdict for Niemi
02 Jan 2007 - 08:05:42
-
- Positive verdict for Niemi
Fulham have breathed a sigh of relief after goalkeeper Antti Niemi was cleared of having suffered a serious neck injury in the goalless draw with Watford.
The Cottagers keeper fell awkwardly in a challenge with Darius Henderson and team-mate Carlos Bocanegra and was taken to hospital for tests after several minutes of treatment on the pitch.
However, later on Monday the news was more positive than had been feared at first.
A statement on the club's website confirmed: "The club can announce that Antti Niemi, having been reviewed at the ground by a spinal surgeon, was taken to hospital where he was reviewed by the doctors and was cleared of any spinal cord or spinal column injury.
"Therefore, the injury sustained is believed to be related to the soft tissue - the ligaments and muscles.
"Antti has been released from hospital and is currently not in a neck brace."
Cottagers boss Chris Coleman had earlier commented: "We were very worried about Antti. It didn't look very good from the replay. He fell very awkwardly.
"He has got some damage to his neck, but he can feel his arms and legs, so that's all right.
"It looks worse on the replay than it actually was, but we don't know when he will be back. The most important thing is for him to get better.
"He's got a bit of damage to the neck, but he says he has feeling everywhere else in his body."