West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster has admitted that his recent freak foot injury left him wondering if he would ever play again.
The England international snapped a bone in his right foot in August which required surgery, leading to a four-month spell on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old has now made a full recovery, although he has conceded that there were times when he thought that his career may be over due to the severity of the injury.
"It was the bone that takes most of the weight through the foot when you push off. For keepers, who are always on their toes, it's a bad injury," Foster told the Daily Star. "I literally pushed and heard this click, and that was it.
"It was a horrible, horrible injury and it's been a long, hard road back. If that injury happens to an outfield player, it is really touch and go whether they keep on playing.
"The doctor said if the bone didn't knit, we were looking at having to fuse it together - and a year out. I was very worried that I'd miss the whole season and if the operation didn't work, even longer."
Foster has made eight appearances in all competitions since his return from injury.