Norwich City legend Bryan Gunn has sent his sympathies to Andre Gomes, following the Everton midfielder’s distressing injury, which reminded the former goalkeeper of a similar incident from his playing days.
Tottenham and Everton players were left visibly upset during yesterday's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, after a challenge from Spurs forward Son Heung-min led to Gomes landing awkwardly, suffering a fracture dislocation to his right ankle.
With the Portugal international set for surgery today, after being taken off on a stretcher to go straight to hospital, in an injury so serious that broadcast companies decided not to show replays.
Gunn can relate to Gomes' situation having suffered a season-ending injury during a 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest in December 1994, which ruled him out for the rest of that Premier League season, which would end in relegation for the Canaries with a young Andy Marshall deputising in goal.
The Scot made 477 appearances for Norwich between 1986 and 1998, and is still fourth in the club's all-time appearances list.
He wrote about that awful injury in his autobiography 'In Where It Hurts', recalling: "Early in the first half, with the game still goalless, Ian Woan tried his luck from the edge of the box.
"I saved the shot with my outstretched leg, but as I fell back my studs stuck in the ground. My foot didn't move as I hit the deck, dislocating my ankle and breaking my leg in the process. It was a totally freak injury.
"The ball stayed in play as I lay on the floor watching helplessly as a shot flew over the bar. Suddenly Stuart Pearce was standing over me.
"'What's wrong, Big Man?' (Pearce). 'I think I might have broken my leg' (Gunn). I wasn't in particularly bad pain - more shock I guess - but I knew I'd done some damage.
"The fact my ankle was at right angles to my leg was a bit of a giveaway. As soon as (physio) Tim Sheppard saw my foot, he called for a stretcher and gently brought my legs together. As he did so, the ankle clicked back into place."
In light of the Everton midfielder's unfortunate injury on Sunday, Gunn posted on Twitter to say: "Yesterday's bad injury to Andre Gomes brought back memories from Dec 1994 at @NFFC v @NorwichCityFC at the City Ground!
"Here's my dislocated ankle & broken leg with Stuart Pearce first on the scene! Good luck to Andre with his operation today, recovery and comeback! #GetWellSoon."
Son was dismissed for the challenge, despite referee Martin Atkinson initially showing the South Korea international a yellow card. Cenk Tosun scored a stoppage-time equaliser for the Toffees which cancelled out Dele Alli's second-half opener.
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