Archived News from November 2002
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VAUGHAN - I`LL BE BACK
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TONY: I'LL BE BACK
Evening Post, 12 November 2002 Tony Vaughan today vowed to fight to save his career after learning that he will be out of the game for at least three months. The 27-year-old picked up a medial knee ligament injury in Mansfield's derby against Notts County. The centre-half, who only has seven months remaining on his present Nottingham Forest contract, initially feared he would be out of the game for at least nine months with a cruciate ligament injury. After undergoing a scan at King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield yesterday he was relieved to find out it was medial knee ligament damage. Despite the terrible timing of the injury, the £350,000 signing from Manchester City remains upbeat after his month's loan deal at Mansfield was cut short in the worst possible circumstances. "I'm confident of getting another club, but it doesn't help my case getting injured at this stage," Vaughan admitted, after returning to the City Ground. "I'm not getting any younger. There's no point getting down about it because there are a lot of people worse off than me in this world. "I originally thought I was going to be out for nine months but three months out gives me a chance to get fit and get a few games before the end of the season. Hopefully, I will go out on loan again. "I have seven months left on my contract. If I was going to be out for nine months it would have taken me over my contract but when I'm fit, I will still have four months left to prove my fitness again." The 27-year-old, who is one of Forest's highest-paid players, moved to the Stags after failing to win a place on the bench for the Reds reserves. He played against the Magpies after Stags physio Barry Statham worked over-time to get him ready for the game at Meadow Lane because of a shortage of fit players. "I had been playing all right to say I have not played for six months," Vaughan said. "I injured my back the week before. Barry was as good as gold to get me fit for the game on Saturday. He gave me intense treatment and worked his socks off." Stags boss Stuart Watkiss admitted Vaughan's loss was a blow and praised the former Manchester City defender for the contribution he had made during his time at Field Mill. He said: "Tony has been absolutely brilliant to have around the club "He played in four games and I think everyone who has seen him play for us will agree he has been top drawer." Watkiss said the club's finances would almost certainly scupper any hopes of Vaughan being a Mansfield player when he recovers. The two clubs came to an agreement on Vaughan's wages so that the player could join Stags for a month. Watkiss said: "I would love to take him but we all know it is not as simple as that. "He is at Forest until the end of the season and it is no secret that he is well out of our wage bracket but if it was just down to his ability as a footballer, I think he would be a great asset to Mansfield Town." |
Latest | November 2002