ERIN Cuthbert returns to Hampden for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Hungary, having been stretchered off with what looked to be a serious head injury when Scotland beat the Faroe Islands 7-1 at the national stadium last month.
The midfielder scored the opening goal in that game – as she has done in four of her five Scotland appearances this year – and was player of the match. The announcement came as the stretcher carrying her passed in front of fans in the main stand, including her parents, and she disappeared inside the stadium to loud applause tempered by concern that she might have been badly hurt.
So, what are her recollections of that late September night?
“I heard people clapping, but I wasn’t too aware of why or what was going on,” Cuthbert said. “I was getting myself in a little bit of a panic because I was hit on the bottom of my jaw and at the time I did think it was broken.
“And you do panic – you're thinking, 'this is my career'. All these things go through your head at the time and I was getting into a mess. Once I got into the changing room I was able to sit up on the physio’s bench and I was talking – just a bit slower than usual.
“My mum and dad were telling me that I got the player of the match award, which was quite weird as you’re being stretchered off! It is never nice for them to see their daughter in something that doesn’t look great.
“A muscular injury is different but a head injury is much more sensitive. Luckily I was okay.”
Cuthbert had to observe a seven-day concussion protocol when she returned to her club. “I had bruising the whole week on my chin,” she said.
“I turned into one of the Faroes players and you just don’t expect it when you are running. I couldn’t believe I had been whacked because I thought I had space. She came out of nowhere.
“Chelsea had me on a treadmill to test my heart-rate and the level of detail was amazing to make sure I was okay. I am a person who likes to be doing something, so it was frustrating for me to watch my team-mates and not be able to train.”
Cuthbert returned to the side for a 3-1 midweek FA WSL win over Brighton, and her recovery was completed when she – again – scored the opening goal in a Champions League group win over Juventus in Turin nine nights ago. Far from being silenced herself by a broken jaw, she managed to mute the home crowd.
“I almost done a Ronaldo celebration but I refrained!” she said of her reaction to the strike against the Italian champions. “I was just so excited. I got the ball rather deep as my new position seems to put me there and then I just kept running.
“Space opened up for me and I thought I would go for it. It is nice when you are silencing a big crowd. In Turin the atmosphere was incredible and all the men’s fans were there too.
“They were booing, making a noise, doing everything they could to put us off, so there is no better feeling than silencing an away crowd like that.”
With top seeds Spain, who lead Group B on goal difference, not in action tonight, Scotland will go top if they beat a Hungary and make it nine points from nine. They won the corresponding game 2-0 in Budapest last month.
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