Nowotny's greatest challenge

By Kevin Ashby

Bayer 04 Leverkusen central defender Jens Nowotny has taken a philosophical view on his latest injury, a second cruciate ligament rupture which will rule him out for the rest of a season already ruined by a similar injury last year.

Nowotny confident
"Such a small thing is not the end of the world," said the 29-year-old, one of the finest exponents of his trade in world football. "I have a lot of support and I don't see any problem making a comeback. Even though this has happened a second time in a row there are things which could be worse. That's why such things cannot disconcert me."

Missing out
Nowotny suffered the initial injury in the second leg of the German club's UEFA Champions League semi-final elimination of Manchester United FC on 30 April last year and missed out on a run-in which could have seen the club emerge from the shadows of the town's Aspirin factory by collecting three major trophies. As it was, Leverkusen missed out, losing in the finals of the German Cup and UEFA Champions League and the 1. Bundesliga title to BV Borussia Dortmund.

Cause for celebration
Nowotny's return in Sunday's game against FC Energie Cottbus was a cause for celebration at the BayArena, but it was to end in disaster as the team captain's right knee failed him again. More light will be shed on Nowotny's future on Monday after the German specialist, Dr Heinz-Jürgen Eichhorn, has replaced the player's shattered knee with a plastic one.

Mental challenge
Two other Bundesliga players, FC Bayern München's Hasan Salihamidzic and Manuel Friedrich of SV Werder Bremen, are currently recuperating from similar operations. Friedrich's injury, like Nowotny's, was sustained in his first game back, presenting a mental as well as physical challenge to a player aged just 23.

Noble spirit
Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said that Friedrich had already "shown the heart of a fighter" and would do so again, exactly the sort of attitude needed to overcome such adversity. Such battling spirit has seen numerous footballers return from career-threatening setbacks to relive former glories and, in Ronaldo's case, even eclipse them.

World's best
The Brazilian's future in football was in doubt when he returned from a knee injury for Internazionale FC in their 2000 Italian Cup final against S.S. Lazio, only to last just six minutes as a second-half substitute before rupturing a knee ligament which limited him to a handful of appearances in the next two years.

Perfect response
Ronaldo, like Brazil, was written off as a spent force prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but struck eight goals to mark him out as the greatest goalscorer in a final round since Gerd Müller bombed his way to ten goals in 1970.

Shearer defiance
Former England striker Alan Shearer gave an answer to critics who questioned his ability to return from complex surgery for a second time which was as stern as one of his shoulder charges: "When I come back - not if - there won't be any problem," he said.

Courage and commitment
Both men have won nothing but admiration for their courage and commitment, as has Fernando Redondo, the elegant Argentinian who lit up the Champions League in 2000 before numerous operations sidelined him until the end of 2002. Their example can only provide comfort for Nowotny as he begins the long path back to fitness again. Leverkusen, Germany and European football will certainly be wishing him well.