Some of football’s most horrific injuries

PLEASE BE AWARE: YOU MAY FIND SOME OF THE FOLLOWING IMAGES DISTRESSING.

The third-minute lunge by Birmingham’s Martin Taylor on Arsenal’s Eduardo was a badly-timed tackle with the most awful repercussions. See our gallery of sport’s nasty injuries here.
The Croatian forward Eduardo shattered his left leg in three places and underwent surgery for a double compound fracture.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was carried off after sustaining a fractured skull in a collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt

Liverpool’s Djibril Cisse broke his leg in October 2004 against Blackburn. He returned the following April, having had pins inserted in his leg after this horrific incident

Following in the mould of Terry Butcher, Paul Ince carried on playing despite a ghastly head wound against Italy in 1997

David Busst’s career was effectively ended when the Coventry defender broke his leg in this gut-churning challenge. Even fellow players couldn’t bear to look as he was treated on the pitch

Pedro Mendes lies stricken on the pitchside after a vicious elbow attack by Ben Thatcher in 2006

Alan Smith of Manchester United broke his leg during the FA Cup fifth round match against Manchester United in February 2006. Smith broke his left leg and dislocated his ankle after falling awkwardly

Prolific striker Henrik Larsson’s injury, playing for Celtic in 1999, saw his broken lower left leg dangling in his sock

Gary Caldwell tackles David Fernandez to disastrous effect during Kilmanock v Celtic 29th October 2006

Everton’s James Vaughan lies bleeding after severing an artery in his left ankle against Bolton during their Premier League match at The Reebok Stadium in April 2007

Belgian striker Luc Nilis sustained a double fracture in his right leg as he ran towards goal while playing for Aston Villa against Ipswich in September 2000. He was forced to announce his retirement from the game the following January

Danish striker Jacob Olesen, of Viborg, howls in pain after sustaining his sickening injury