Steve Davies is thanking his lucky stars after a week which nearly cost him his footballing career.
An innocent looking clash in the latter stages of the Rams home game with Southampton left Davies with what at first was thought to be a depressed fracture of the skull but later surgery revealed the true horror of the injury.
Davies needed 10 metal plates and 22 screws to correct the fracture just above his left eye. Sixteen stitches across the players forehead to complete the surgery. Surgeons have told Davies, who is now home recovering and faces at least a three month lay-off.
Steve has been unlucky with injury since his transfer to the Rams from Tranmere and has suffered ten individual spells on the side lines. His injuries range from an infected big toe to the life threatening fracture he received last weekend.
All at Derby County Mad wish Steve a speedy recovery and look forward to his return, which may correspond with a promotion push in the Spring..