I broke my neck playing for Aston Villa – it could’ve left me in a wheelchair for life

Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin revealed on the podcast In The Mixer that a neck injury sustained against Sheffield Wednesday in December 1999 nearly left him in a wheelchair. Dublin explained that after colliding with Gerald Sibon, his C5 vertebra was crushed, but quick intervention from physio Jim Walker prevented catastrophic spinal damage before emergency surgery.

Dublin returned to action just three and a half months later and started the 2000 FA Cup final against Chelsea. He also discussed his infamous March 2003 red card for headbutting Birmingham City's Robbie Savage, taking full blame for the clash and noting that the pair have since become close friends through broadcasting.