It’s always nice having time to talk with the squad, and chatting with TC (Tahir) is no exception. Unfortunately, our latest conversation follows the serious injury sustained in the first home league match of the season.
So, the injury: what’s the technical terminology?
“It’s quite a long list! Officially, I suffered a complete ACL rupture, medial and lateral meniscus tears, an osteochondral fracture of the lateral femoral condyle, a proximal MCL injury and a PCL sprain. Basically, I managed to damage most of the important structures in my right knee in one incident!”
Layman’s terms: what have you broken, snapped, torn?
“In simple terms, I’ve completely snapped my ACL, torn both the inside and outside cartilage in my knee, damaged my MCL and PCL, and suffered a fracture to the end of my femur involving the cartilage and bone surface. So, unfortunately, it wasn’t just a straightforward knee injury!”
Did you know straight away that it was a serious injury?
“Straight away, I knew something wasn’t right. You always hope it’s something minor, but the way it happened and how my knee felt afterwards made me realise pretty quickly that it could be serious. I don’t think I expected the full extent of the damage though. The pain was immediate. I’ve picked up plenty of knocks and injuries playing football over the years, but this was completely different. It was more the overall feeling that something had seriously gone wrong than just a normal impact or twist. Hopefully it’s an experience I don’t have to compare to anything again!”
We hear horror stories about hospital care, how was your immediate care and follow-ups so far?
“Honestly, I can’t fault the care I’ve received. From the initial scans and investigations through to the surgery and follow-ups, everyone has been brilliant. It’s been a lot to take in, but I’ve felt looked after throughout and I’m grateful to everyone involved in getting me to this point.
So far, I’ve had one operation. The first surgery involved a right knee arthroscopy, repairing the meniscus and fixing the osteochondral fracture. The immediate priority was dealing with the damage that needed urgent attention. The plan is for me to have at least one further operation, once the knee has settled down, to address the ACL and any remaining meniscus issues.”
Is it too early for a “repair” plan and at what point will you discuss a programme of ops to get you back on your feet and unsupported mobile?
“There is a plan in place, but it’s very much about taking things step by step at the moment. The priority is getting the knee calm, allowing the initial repairs to heal and gradually rebuilding movement and strength. Once I’m further along in that process, the specialists can finalise the next stages and work towards getting me fully mobile again.
The medical timeline is a long one — this isn’t going to be a quick return. With the number of injuries and surgeries involved, recovery and rehabilitation will be measured in months rather than weeks and sadly the timeline they’ve put on it is ranging between 18-24 months until I’m kicking a ball again.
The TC timeline, though? I’m taking it one day at a time! I’ve got plenty of work ahead of me, but anyone who knows me knows I’ll be doing everything possible to come back stronger. There’ll be good days and frustrating days, but the aim remains the same: get back on my feet, get back involved and eventually get back on the pitch.”
How has the injury impacted on your work and how could it impact going forward?
“It’s had a big impact on both sides of what I do. My main job is in recruitment and normally requires me to be able to get into the office, which obviously isn’t possible for me at the moment. My employer is currently working through the logistics of whether I can work from home, but until that’s sorted, I’m unable to work as normal.
Away from that, coaching is a massive part of my life, so not being able to get out on the pitch and work with the players has been difficult. I’m lucky to have a great group of people around me at the club, and I know I’ll be back involved when the time is right.”
Which teammate has asked the most random or inappropriate question so far?
“There has definitely been some outrageous questions and random ones. Some that you would expect from a football dressing room. If I had to put a name on it, it would be Bruno who’s taking that crown! I’ll spare the details though.”
A teammate you’d happily invite round to watch TV with you all day, and a teammate you’d be making excuses about having an appointment if he wanted to drop in?
“In terms of the group we are all close and I don’t think there would be anyone who I wouldn’t have round to chill. I won’t sit on the fence though and a teammate I’d have round to chill all day would be Kieran (Jordan) because he’s the comedian of the group. Or Nathan because he’s very similar to me and I’ve known him a long long time.
Someone I would make an excuse is a difficult one; It’s nothing personal but probably Toby (Bridges) because he’d be sat here telling me that Chelsea are going to win the league and be telling me how to play football manager! But in all seriousness, there isn’t anyone I would lie to.”
And your go-to snack or drink to make you feel better?
“I have had a lot of Lucozade and just in these two weeks I’ve had a couple of Chinese takeaways. In terms of a snack…Crisps, anything with a little spice in the crisp will do. But, it won’t be long if I carry on this road that I will be loading on a few pounds.”
