Nineteen years on, David Busst reveals scars from horrific 1996 leg break

The Coventry defender suffered compound fractures to his tibia and fibula as his right leg was snapped when he was caught between Manchester United players Denis Irwin and Brian McClair.

Busst’s career was ended after the incident at Old Trafford in 1996 and he had 26 operations to save his leg. His recovery was also prolonged after he contracted MRSA in his stay at hospital which caused further damage to the tissue and muscle around the injury.

Speaking to talkSPORT about the moment of the collision, Busst said: “I was on the pitch 87 seconds when I got injured.

“Irwin came off the post I think and McClair came from behind and in that split second it was just the impact of two forces, one going one way and one going the other way.

“I knew something serious had happened; something wasn't in the place it should have been. I could see from the reaction of people around me. I'll never forget Dion Dublin, he was just bent down with his hand on his head, the look of horror in his eyes.

“They would have seen my right shin coming up at an 'L' shape when it should have been straight down.

“I didn't look down, you go into shock mode. The pain is excruciating. You freeze. You think any movement will make it worse. 

“I saw the physio come on and then they called for the Man United physio to come on and then the doctors to come on. I hadn't passed out.”

A photograph and video of the scars was tweeted by talkSPORT presenter Andy Goldstein after Busst was as a guest on his Sports Bar show on Friday.

The 48-year-old is now the director of Coventry's Football in the Community programme and has completed his UEFA coaching badges.   

Recalling his arrival in hospital back in 1996, he said: “I had to have the kit cut off me. I always remember them having to remove my boot, my sock and my shinpad and I was awake for that.”

He also remembers the kindness of the United players who came to see him while he was recovering.

“Steve Bruce and his son Alex, who was eight years old, came in. Ryan Giggs came to see me. After about 4-5 weeks I was able to go out to a hotel with my family and I got a call from downstairs saying there was a Manchester United fan who wanted to come up and see me.

“This young lad in a baseball cap came up and I said "Hi, I'm Dave Busst" and he said ‘I'm David Beckham’. I went ‘oh God I'm so sorry, they said it was just a fan down in the lobby’. He wasn't as famous as he is now.”

Even after the shocking injury, however, Busst has started to play five-a-side again. But he admits: “When I play, I go in for challenges and my dad absolutely cringes!”