Malcolm Christie admits injury hell, medical blunders and false promises broke him

The ascent was so fast and thrilling. From stacking supermarket shelves to the Premier League in the blink of an eye. Scoring a brilliant winner at the Stretford End of Old Trafford to beat his beloved Manchester United and ensure Derby County avoided relegation.

There was England recognition and a move to Middlesbrough as Steve McClaren created a team that would win the League Cup and reach the UEFA Cup final, but the descent was torturous and prolonged.

It is the dark side of our beautiful game, a world of injuries and medical mistakes, broken promises and a vanishing network of support and it plunged Malcolm Christie into a spiral of despair that ended in a breakdown and therapy.

The…