REAL MADRID HAVE have given Sunderland forward Duncan Watmore an unexpected lift as he faces another battle with serious injury.
Only weeks after returning from cruciate ligament damage, the 23-year-old suffered a similar problem, which could see him sidelined for the best part of a year.
The former England Under-21 international managed only six matches before suffering a relapse in a 2-2 draw with Millwall last month, but the Santiago Bernabeu club have apparently helped to ease some of the mental pain by sending the player a letter of support.
Duncan went to rehab today to find this letter waiting for him. How classy is that from @realmadrid? I now hope they win the Champions League again! pic.twitter.com/0D4rLIw5Wc
— Ian Watmore (@ianwatmore) December 5, 2017
“To get the letter was a total surprise but what an incredible gesture from a very classy club,” Ian Watmore, the player’s father, told the BBC.
“It has given Duncan a real lift. He sent me a picture of it on WhatsApp as he left the training ground and I asked if I could tweet it. The reaction has been great.
“His situation is just awful really. We don’t know how long he will be out this time but I would be surprised if he is back before September or October next year.
“If he was a world-famous player maybe you’d expect it. It was totally out of the blue.
“What an incredible gesture.”
“Mata’s charity is followed very closely by the Spanish media, so I suspect Real Madrid have picked up on what happened to Duncan that way,” he explained.
“Either that or Chris Coleman his manager has said something to Gareth Bale through their relationship at the Wales international level.
“But for the club to think of him and send a letter is wonderful.”
And Ian is confident his son can come back as strong as ever from the setback.
“It happened through a freak accident,” he said. “It’s not an inherent weakness in the knee.
“It was just one of those weird footballing things that can happen. The same surgeon who rebuilt his knee last year has already operated again.
“Duncan came through England U21s with players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Will Hughes and Jordan Pickford. So while they’re all emerging on the Premier League scene he’s stuck in the slow lane again, which is very difficult for him.
“But it doesn’t help mentally when you think about what could have been. You have to deal with the situation as it is and Duncan is good at that.”
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He’s been a huge plus for the Farrell team as he’s just bossed what was starting to become a problem position for Ireland.
Takes care of the basics first, and he’s starting to reveal more to his game now week on week at every level, influencing huge games.
I think the lad has a massive ceiling.
@Patrick Doherty: and a brilliant mix of writing and analysis as always from Murray Kinsella.
I completely agree the way he played last week against Munster was top class. Looked dangerous every time he had the ball in hand. Rock solid under the high ball and looking to attack at every opportunity
Where I have the difficulty with his play is over the five games for Ireland he offered absolutely nothing whatsoever in attack. Even when we were dominant against the English. He looked easy to read with ball in hand.
Before I get lambasted and abused here I believe it must be the different coaching structures between Ireland and Leinster
@Bgkph: he’s 24 and learning every week.
This is the role leinster wanted for carbury so it’s no surprise they are working with Keenan to do the same. Ireland don’t seem to want their 15 to play make so your not going to see this too much for Ireland
@Bgkph: it’s a much much higher level than any PR014 or HC games. It’s what Ronan O Gara keeps saying. Such a chasm between the levels
He’s a good solid player who has already improved hugely since he got his first cap. I’m not sure if he has as much X factor in attack that larmour and stockdale have. The experiment with them at full back failed though and IMO a safe pair of hands which he has , is the most important thing a full back should have…. hopefully the attacking threat can be worked on and will continue to improve…
This guy is a massive credit to the 7s system. He’s so solid, does all the basics so well and rarely makes a mistake. He’s going to get better and better.
He needs to work on his passing and decision making. He is already an improvement on Kearney but like Kearney he takes the ball into contact. Also he needs to fix his man before passing as it cost Lowe a try against France
@Patrick O Connell: the videos show him passing or offloading each time and continuing the movement. Doesn’t really correlate to your point about him going into contact
@Patrick O Connell: every time he takes it into contact he seems to make yards. Fella wriggles out of every tackle