'Miracle' - Ex-Premier League star close to breakthrough after 37-month injury hell

Gerard Deulofeu believes he is a step closer to a 'miracle' return to football following a three-year spell on the sidelines through injury.

The former Watford and Everton star hasn’t played a single minute since January 2023 due to a series of issues with his right knee.

When did Gerard Deulofeu last play?

The 31-year-old had a 12-minute cameo for Italian outfit Udinese during their 1-0 win away against Sampdoria 37-months ago.

Deulofeu was making his comeback from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a game against Napoli prior to the 2022 World Cup.

Despite coming on as a sub in the 77th minute, the Spaniard felt his knee giving way and broke down in tears as he asked to be taken off.

It was the second ACL injury Deulofeu had sustained in his right knee, having missed eight months while he was at Watford in 2020.

Gerard Deulofeu injury

As the winger proved following his successful comeback at Watford, most modern footballers make full recoveries from ACL injuries.

However, Deulofeu suffered an infection after undergoing surgery to correct his setback at Udinese, which ate away at his cartilage.

As a result, he lost both muscle strength and flexibility in his knee to the point that it would have ended the careers of most players.

Yet Deulofeu has refused to succumb to retirement and is now hopeful he is about to return to running after more than 1,100 days.

"I lost all my personal life," he told BBC Sport. "That's the most hurtful thing that you can feel.

"Now I am just waiting to do a miracle to be back playing football. But I know it is so difficult to come back with that type of incapacity."

Deulofeu started his attempt at a comeback with cell treatment designed to rebuild the cartilage that had been destroyed.

But the four-cap Spain international faced a setback after attempting to run again, explaining, 'My knee needed to heal'.

Two years on, further injections alongside six months of gym work to rebuild his leg muscles have left him close to running once again.

“I am so happy because I feel the leg is really strong,” he added. “The more muscle you get, the less pain you have inside the knee, so now I feel that, yes, my knee is prepared to run. I am feeling that I am close.

“If we speak about muscle, I am in the same levels of the available guys now.

“But let's see how they respond, with no cartilage and no meniscus."

Despite having his Udinese contract terminated, Deulofeu continues to use the club's facilities at Stadio Friuli.

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