Chris Basham will ‘come back fit as a fiddle’ despite horrific ankle break, insists Paul Heckingbottom – as Sheffield United boss reveals he is still in hospital but is recovering well

• Some feared Chris Basham’s injury against Fulham could curtail his career
• However, Paul Heckingbottom is confident the 35-year-old stalwart will return 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Coming Up!’ 

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom does not think Chris Basham’s horror injury will be career-threatening.

The 35-year-old suffered a shocking fracture to his ankle in the defeat at Fulham before the international break and remains in hospital after two operations.

Given the severity of the injury and the midfielder’s age, there had been questions raised over whether he could come back, but Heckingbottom was confident.

‘One thing to say about Bash, everyone knows how naturally fit he is,’ the boss said ahead of Saturday night’s Premier League visit of Manchester United.

‘He is blessed with really good endurance. He will come back fit as a fiddle, that won’t take long. The surgeons are really happy with the work they have done, so there is no reason whatsoever.

Chris Basham’s ankle injury treatment has ‘gone as well as it can’, says Paul Heckingbottom

He shared a photo of himself recovering in hospital with fans worried it could be career-ending

The veteran player, 35, suffered a shocking ankle fracture against Fulham earlier in October

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‘When you are looking at these injuries, when people are having operations, it is just the length of time they are out for.

‘No one at all is thinking that way, especially not Bash.

‘Everything has gone as well as it can. With an injury of that nature, everyone thinks of it because of how freakish it was and how horrible it looks. But you still get surgery and treated the same way.

‘He is still in hospital. He is going crazy inside those four walls. He has had a couple of operations that were needed. Hopefully he will be getting home to his family in the next few days.

‘They release you when you’re ready, they are monitoring him, making sure he is OK. When they are happy for him to go, he will be back with his family.’

It was a bad week for the Blades as captain John Egan and midfielder Tom Davis have also gone under the knife.

Heckingbottom said Basham ‘will come back fit as a fiddle’ and lauded the veteran’s endurance

Basham was taken away from Craven Cottage in an ambulance after fracturing his ankle

Egan suffered an Achilles injury at Craven Cottage and Davis hurt his thigh in training.

‘It was a shocking week for injuries, the other two have had surgery,’ Heckingbottom added.

‘They are going to be out for a long time until they are back fit. John was in the game, he was jumping for a header.

‘Tom, it was literally the last kick of the ball in training and he hurt his thigh, so it was a bad week for us.’

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