Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester lifts lid on neck injury nightmare and ‘scary’ news delivered by medics that ‘we found some damage’

Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester has revealed his fear when a doctor told him to “sit down because we have some bad news” after a sickening fall on to the artificial pitch at Kilmarnock.

Having been knocked unconscious during the 3-0 loss at Kilmarnock on January 31, the centre-back was rushed to Crosshouse Hospital.

After two days in hospital, Knoester thought he was suffering solely from concussion.

However, following scans medics broke the devastating news he had suffered damage to his neck – and Knoester says that was when his situation became “a lot scarier”.

Knoester can’t remember anything about the incident at Rugby Park as he was unconscious and had been administered oxygen, then morphine.

When confirmation of the damage to his neck was delivered, the original prognosis by medics was Knoester would be out for the rest of the season.

‘Sit down, we have some bad news’

He returned ahead of schedule and, after featuring off the bench twice, made his first start for three months in the 2-0 win against Dundee United.

Dutch defender Knoester had to wear a neck brace for six weeks and admits he grew frustrated at the timeframe.

But he felt grateful when a specialist told the Dons’ defender a rugby player he had treated with the same injury had to retire.

Knoester said: “I didn’t know a lot when it happened because I was knocked out.

“That was not really scary, because it was just a black picture.

“After that, I felt quite okay.. I thought it was just a concussion, and they’re always very careful with that.

“I was feeling quite okay – I had a slight headache and that was all.

“So I was a bit naive that everything was going to be fine.

“But when I was in the hospital, after two days they had the result.

“They said: ‘You might want to sit down, because we have some bad news. We found some damage that needs to heal.’

“When I was told I had damage in the neck, then it was a lot scarier.

“And when I was told I had to go in the collar, that was some tough news to take.”

Knoester has watched footage of the impact on the pitch at Rugby Park.

‘I was laying there and I had morphine’

The accident and aftermath was particularly traumatic for his wife and two children.

Knoester says it was particularly difficult for his family because he was in hospital in Kilmarnock, away from them.

He said: “I can’t really remember.

“It was worst for them (family) I think.

“For me, I was laying there and I had morphine, so I felt okay.

“As it was in Kilmarnock, it was far away from my family and I had to stay there.

“And I was not on my phone, of course, so there was only indirect contact with people from the club.

“So I think for them it was very scary.

“My mum and dad asked if they should come across.

“I said it didn’t make sense to come over as I was just in the hospital waiting.”

Knoester made his comeback when he featured off the bench in the 1-0 win against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie on April 25.

Rugby player had to retire after suffering similar accident

He also featured as a substitute in the following game against Livingston (2-2), before being pitched in from the start in the New Firm derby.

Knoester said: “At first it was the end of the season, for sure.

“That was the message – but then it healed.

“The result after six weeks was very good.

“So I could return to contact after 12 weeks, was the message.

“I was disappointed. Six weeks (in a collar) and I’m out for the season.

“It was after collar came off that the specialist told me of a similar accident, and mine was the best scenario possible.

“The specialist said he had a rugby player with a similar incident, and he had to end his career.

“So I’ve been very lucky in that way.”

Despite being out injured for three months, Knoester still scooped the player of the year gong at the club’s annual awards ceremony.

Build up to follow-up scan ‘scary’

The 27-year-old was also named players’ player of the year.

Knoester, who is set to start against St Mirren at Pittodrie on Tuesday, said: “When the collar was on, it was very strange.

“I still had to get the follow-up scan to see if it would heal well, and that was a scary phase.

“But after that I felt quite good fast.”

[Source: Press and Journal]