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SANDY - Javier Morales was on the wrong end of one of Utah's most jarring injuries, and even he admits he's never seen anything quite like it out on a soccer field.
"Never like that. No. I feel it, I feel it," Morales said, recalling the May 7 injury suffered in a game against Chivas USA.
The Real Salt Lake midfielder began his comeback from the ankle injury, which broke a bone, dislocated his ankle and tore ligaments. The injury is something himself, teammates and fans won't soon forget, but Javier is optimistic, starting rehab with hopes to be back out on the field in four short months.
"(When it) first happened I heard (the sound of breaking wood), I thought something is wrong here. When I looked I saw my ankle in the wrong position, (facing) the other way, that was hard," Morales told KSL.
Dr. Andrew Cooper, Real Salt Lake's team physician, was in the stands and saw Javier's injury.
"I could see it and knew immediately that something was very wrong. I actually ran out of the stands and on to the field and was able to put his ankle back in on the field," Dr. Cooper said.
Dr. Cooper said the injury probably looked worse than it was - an ACL injury to the knee would have presented a more daunting recovery.
Morales said he's now focused on getting back out on the field, remarkably maybe this season.
"Yeah, I'm trying to do that. It's my goal. I want to make a record of fastest comeback," Morales said.
Dr. Cooper said the injury has an average four-month healing time. In the meantime, the Argentine is thanking RSL fans, saying that their support is already helping him heal.
