ASHBEE VOWS: I'M NOT FINISHED

IAN ASHBEE has heard the whispering campaign.

That at 33 he's finished. That a return in the summer of the osteochondral problem, the injury that threatened his ability to even walk three years ago, signalled the end.

It was, he admits, a traumatic summer. One that, with any hint from an expert of long-term problems, would have forced the Hull captain to quit the game.

His biggest fear was nothing to do with football. It was not being able to run around and play with his children.

"My three-year-old boy Stanley is mad about playing football," he admitted.

"The decision would have been about quality of life or playing football for a couple of seasons. It's a no-brainer. There would have been no question about playing on.

"You see these old players walking around with arthritis. It's scandalous. I don't want that. I did think 'Why me?' but I always believe worse things happen in this world. There are a lot of people worse off.

"You wonder if it is a sign that you you should stop. You don't want your knee swelling up every time you do something with your children. When you finish football, you still have more than half of your life to live. If it had been to the detriment of my health, I would have had to think about my future."

But it didn't.

And green lights do not come much brighter than when they are shone by Dr Richard Steadman, the world's leading specialist on knee injuries.

Steadman looked, operated, and has told Ashbee he will be back before the season ends, justifying the contract extension he signed last week.

When he picked up the cruciate knee ligament injury against West Ham last season, the recovery should have been relatively simple.

But the return of the osteochondral defect threatened everything.

"I've come back from the best surgeon in the world," he added. "He said it will be fine and he's not one for false promises. I will be back running in January or February and I will play again this season.

"Dr Steadman scraped the dead bone out and microfractured the bone.

"They put something like a toothpick into my leg to make holes up through the bone just to get the blood to come back down to calcify and make the bone became stronger again. It worked for me first time. I'm not angry about people saying I won't come back - but they are wrong."

Frustratingly, he will remain an observer in Hull's hour of need. Ashbee was a key member of the side who roared into the Premier League two seasons ago and his industry and honesty have been badly missed by boss Phil Brown.

Flak

Ashbee added: "The manager is all about hard work and he expects that from the players.

"People have thrown mud at the club and him. He takes the flak to make it easier on the boys.

"I've wanted to be out there, helping. I'm a noisy voice in the changing room. I'm the captain and hopefully I would have had a say in it all. I've been here eight years and the club is close to my heart.

"Of course it was a worry before I signed the contract - it was my last year. It's part and parcel of being a footballer. You have to face that worry head on.

"It's something that keeps you awake at night. You have a family and children and you provide for them.

"I'm not a charity case, people know that's not the kind of person I am. But it is nice to see loyalty rewarded. I want to repay that."

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