Telegraph & Argus

Former Huddersfield Town defender Anthony Lloyd went into the new year with hope and optimism after ending 2009 on crutches following a shattering leg injury.

Lloyd had been ever present for Guiseley this season when he was injured in stoppage time of the UniBond League Premier Division clash at Kendal Town.

That was midway through November and the damage was so severe that Lloyd spent a week in hospital.

However, the 25-year-old, signed from Conference outfit York City, has had time to come to terms with his injury and has a sunny outlook.

"It was seven weeks ago now and the first three were the hardest - both mentally and physically,” said Lloyd, who once scored for the Terriers in a play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

"It was tough to get my head around at first and difficult to lay down all the time in bed or on the sofa - I couldn’t do anything.

"I was in Lancaster Hospital from the Saturday it happened until the following Tuesday when they transferred me to BRI, and I was in there until the Saturday after.

"I couldn’t bend it at all after the surgery for six weeks, and I have been told I might need a second operation later to get rid of scar tissue. Otherwise I might not get full movement back and may never walk properly again.”

Lloyd’s knee took the full force of the tackle and the initial damage was so bad that the paramedics were administering first aid to prevent amputation. Renowned sports injury specialist Steve Bollen did the surgery, and many of his former patients are still making a living in the professional game thanks to his excellent work, so Lloyd has every reason to hope for a full recovery.

BBC News

A boom in short skiing holidays abroad is leading to a rapid increase in knee injuries, particularly to women, claims a top specialist.

Steve Bollen, president of the British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma Association, blames poor fitness among beginners.

He describes many of the serious ligament injuries which he sees as "half-term syndrome".

The number of UK people who ski or snowboard is also rising - more than 1.3 million in 2007.

Damage to the ligaments which hold the knee together can require surgery to repair, and if left untreated, can cause irrepairable damage to the joint.

However, this is one of the most common injuries caused by falls or twisting during skiing, partly due to the design of modern ski boots, said Mr Bollen, an orthopaedic surgeon at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Mark Bower Column, Telegraph & Argus

I've realised in the last couple of days how lucky I am to be a footballer.

It's obviously very frustrating to be sat around at home after the operation to have some cartilage removed from my knee.

But the speed with which everything was done shows just how fortunate we are. There was no hanging around.

The scan got read on Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning I was under the knife and having the work done. So it shouldn't be long before I am able to get back to earning a living again.

I'd like to thank Mr Bollen and everyone at the Yorkshire Clinic who looked after me.

We played Oxford a few days later.  We won but I got subbed and as I went off the Sunderland crowd cheered.  I couldn’t run, couldn’t do anything rigorous.  My knee was tattered – no power, lots of pain.  The crowd were on my back all the time.

I had another arthroscope on the Monday but nothing showed up.  In desperation, Neil Medcalfe, our new physio, sent me down to Yorkshire to see a Mr Bollen.  He prodded and poked and said he wanted to open my knee there and then.  Why?  I had my retirement forms.  I had a job with an Irish newspaper lined up.  I was resigned to life after football.  But when Mr Bollen said he wanted to get his scalpel busy right then, hope rose irresistibly.  OK, once more.  Open it up.  I’m nothing if not an optimist.

Telegraph & Argus Archive

Steve Bollen lists his sporting pastimes as rock climbing and snowboarding.

"I like doing anything with adrenaline," he said. "I've always been very keen on sport but never particularly good."

What he does do well is mend knees and ankles.

And as orthopaedic surgeon to the stars, he has put millions of pounds worth of football talent back on the pitch.

Bollen's name may not rank alongside Gary McAllister or Niall Quinn but the Bradford-based doctor is feted just as highly in Premiership circles.

Pictures of McAllister and Quinn stare proudly from his office in the Yorkshire Clinic in Bingley, part of the wall of fame of players he has repaired.

He said: "When you look at the last England squad Eriksson produced, I've treated or operated on eight out of 30.

"Presumably that proves the results I get are quite reasonable! Because I operate on so many players from different clubs, when Match of the Day or Sky is on I sometimes sit there thinking: `I've fixed him, and him and him ...