IT is every sportsman’s nightmare – the horror injury that threatens to end a promising career.

So when footballer Joe Price suffered a double leg fracture in a pre-season friendly it was natural to fear the worst.

But now the courageous 19-year-old has pledged to begin a university degree course this autumn – and train to be a PE teacher.

Joe, from Rhos, is making a good recovery at Wrexham’s Maelor Hospital, where he was admitted following the agonising injury he suffered in the game between
Cefn Druids and Wrexham youth team.

Taking time out to speak from his hospital bed, the Druids winger told the Leader he doesn’t blame anyone for Saturday’s first-half incident and stressed there was no malice involved.

He recalled: “It was a 50-50 ball that myself and the opposing Wrexham player were going for. As soon as the leg broke I was in absolute agony.”

Joe, a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, played football for Wales at under-18 schoolboy level.

He says he was very grateful to staff from both Druids and Wrexham who rushed to his aid and assessed the extent of the damage.

An ambulance was called and, as they waited for it to arrive, Joe was given gas and air to help ease the pain.

A problem with the ambulance’s sat-nav directions added to the time the crew took to reach the site but Joe said he didn’t feel there had been a significant delay.

Joe’s leg has now been reset with pins and a metal rod inserted.

He said: “They are very good at the Maelor. I have been told I will be able to get back to light training in around six months and playing football again in about 10 months.

“I am gutted to be missing out on the coming season. I had been working hard to get my fitness ready in preparation.

“I would also like to say thanks to everyone who has been coming to see me at hospital. They have been great.”

Joe, who works as a waiter at Erddig, is pressing ahead with his plans to study to become a PE teacher and should be back on his feet by the time the university course starts in Manchester.

Huw Griffiths, manager of Cefn Druids, was full of praise for Joe.

He said: “As well as being a very talented player he is a fantastic lad and is highly regarded. We all wish him the very best.”