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RETURN OF PAP

Pape Souare reveals he is ‘very lucky’ as Crystal Palace defender eyes return against Huddersfield

PAPE SOUARE'S professional football career looked in doubt this time last year following a horror car crash on the M4.

The defender is set to make his heroic comeback on Tuesday when the Eagle's host Huddersfield at Selhurst Park.

 The 27-year-old has battled hard to return to fitness following the accident
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The 27-year-old has battled hard to return to fitness following the accidentCredit: Rex Features
 The Senegal international was pulled from the wreckage of his ruined car
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The Senegal international was pulled from the wreckage of his ruined carCredit: PA:Press Association

As thousands of fans prepare for the return of the Senegalese star, only he will truly know how lucky he is to be putting on the Palace jersey again.

The 27-year-old was travelling back from Heathrow airport last September when he was involved in a life-threatening incident.

He had to be airlifted to hospital and suffered a broken leg and jaw as a result. Had the impact been higher, then it is predicted that he would have never walked again.

As he eyes a heroic return to Selhurst Park, he said: "It could have broken my spine and I would have been paralysed. I was told I was very lucky.

"I'd heard that no football player had ever had this kind of injury before. It made you think.

"Where I had the injury was very sensitive, it took all the muscle. I had to work hard to build it up again and at the beginning there was pain and discomfort. I felt my leg was weak.

 The Palace fans have supported their player through his recovery
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The Palace fans have supported their player through his recoveryCredit: Getty Images - Getty

"My family didn't put any pressure on me, it's the pressure I put on myself.

"It's the only thing I know. I had to do all the hard work even though I didn't know the end outcome."

Souare's father Alassane died in September after a battle with cancer, which the player said helped his fight to resurrect his career.

 The defender joined Palace on a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2015
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The defender joined Palace on a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2015Credit: Arfa Griffiths - The Sun

Prior to the car crash, the 27-year-old had cemented his position in Palace's starting XI following a string of impressive displays.

The Palace fans will be hoping that the player's return will encourage the squad to improve following a dismal start to the Premier League campaign.

 The player suffered a broken leg and jaw after the accident
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The player suffered a broken leg and jaw after the accidentCredit: Refer to Caption


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