It has cost him his status as a Premier League player. Condemned him to four years of lonely rehab. It has lost him a job and, very nearly, a career. But he doesn’t.
“Honestly, I’m just grateful to be playing,” says the 26-year-old, now at Middlesbrough after being released by Sunderland in the summer.
“The injuries I’ve had, a lot of people wouldn’t ever be able to play again. Especially a few years ago. All the treatment and physio and rehab - if that didn’t exist to the standards it does then I wouldn’t be playing today.
“So no, I don’t resent my body. I don’t hate it. I’m just happy it still works because there was a very real possibility I wouldn’t be able to play football again.”
Watmore was playing in the Premier League for Sunderland when he suffered the first of two ruptures to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It was December 2016.
Aged 22, he had just won the Toulon tournament with England Under-21s. Jermain Defoe, a team-mate at the Stadium of Light, compared the young winger to Gareth Bale. “An exceptional talent,” said the striker.
The second struck the same knee exactly 12 months later, six games into Watmore’s comeback. Between that day and the start of the current season, he played just 11 times, beset by the niggling muscular injuries that often accompany such a lengthy lay-off.
“There were times when I doubted I’d play again,” admits Watmore. “Plenty of times, if I’m honest. When nothing seems to be working and the prospect of playing is so far away. But that’s when you’ve got to keep grinding, keep persevering.
Frustrated
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Esta historia es de la edición December 13, 2020 de The Football League Paper.
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TON-UP IAN ENJOYS HIS SPECIAL WIN
AN Evatt described his 100th win as Bolton boss as very special, although he needed Aaron Collins' injurytime goal to bring up the three figures.
DONS LACK A CLINICAL EDGE AS SADDLERS GRAB POINTS
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SUB GRIMES IS IN-SPIRED TO HEAD THE WINNER
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COBBLERS TEST IN TROPHY FOR POSH
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HORNETS REMINDED OF GRAY'S BRILLIANCE
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MARTI DOUBTING JOB AFTER DRAW
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BIG MAC'S ON TARGET TO SEE OFF THE TIGERS
LUTON boss Rob Edwards felt it was a very good day at the office as his team turned in a gritty performance to beat Hull.
Rohl confident Owls
DANNY Rohl said getting results is the only thing missing as his Owls were held at home by Cardiff.