MURTY 'COULD BE OUT FOR MONTHS' AFTER VEHICLE SMASH

Last updated : 03 September 2002 By Rob Cooper
Graeme Murty
Murty (left) battles with West Ham's Don Hutchinson
Reading physio Jon Fearn admitted that he did not know how long Graeme Murty will be out for after suffering whiplash in a car crash yesterday. However, it is possible that the 27-year-old could be missing for several months.

"Murty's got whiplash injuries to his neck and went to hospital as a precaution," explained Fearn, the physio, speaking to Teamtalk.com.

"We will not know how bad the whiplash injuries are for a couple of days. It can be a few days, a few weeks or even months, it's difficult to say so we'll have a look at him over these few days.

"It is not inconceivable that he could return to the team as soon as Saturday.

"Martin Butler was fine, he had a bit of a headache after banging his head, but he is OK."

Murty will have to wear a neck brace for the next couple of days before seeing a specialist on Thursday.

Yesterday lunchtime as Martin Butler drove his team mate Graeme Murty home from training in his Mercedes they collided with a large van on the A340.

Speaking after the accident a shaken up Murts said: "I was looking the other way so I didn't actually see it (the collision) happen. I was just thankful that no-one was hurt."

Eager to home, last season's Supporter's Player of the Year was stopped by paramedics.

"The paramedic said that with the symptons I had letting me go home was more than his job was worth. Fair play to him, he did his job very well," Murty added, speaking to readingfc.co.uk.