US star Davies eyes unlikely World Cup comeback

US striker Charlie Davies on Friday spoke of his desire to resume playing, fourth months after a deadly car crash in Washington seemed to have shattered his World Cup dreams.

The October 13 accident killed one passenger and left the 23-year-old Sochaux star with a broken leg, multiple facial fractures and a lacerated bladder. Doctors said he would be out of action for a year.

But Davies is now back training with his club and after cheating death, he says he could even make an incredible comeback to play for Bob Bradley’s US side in South Africa this June.

“Deep down, I’m thinking about the World Cup but I first want to return before the end of the season for Sochaux,” Davies told reporters.

“Bob Bradley told me to take my time. He knows that I still have some way to go.”

Davies, seen as one of US football’s brightest young talents, rejoined his Sochaux team-mates on Thursday and is set to undergo an intensive rehabilitation programme over the next three weeks to boost his fitness.

“I would say that I’m a month away from being able to train with the team regularly and then I need a little time to get match fit again,” he said.

That would mark a huge turnaround in fortunes for a player who could barely stand just a matter of weeks ago.

“I remember my first day back in rehab. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t stand up too long,” he recalled.

“I started with that and now I can run. So I’ve come a long way. It’s definitely gratifying to know that I’ve come so far.”

Aside from getting himself back to match fitness, the 17-cap American international has also had to address the mental scars from his horrific accident.

“I’m a new man who is asking himself a lot of questions. Why did I survive when my friends died in the accident? For three months, I couldn’t sleep as I asked myself this question day and night,” he said.

“Today, I’ve stopped questioning myself as I believe life has given me an opportunity.”

In a message posted on his official Twitter account on Friday evening, Davies revealed that he would be attending Sochaux’s Ligue 1 match at home to Lyon on Sunday.

“Feel great and looking forward to seeing my club Sochaux vs Lyon at home Sunday,” he wrote. “Working extremely hard so you can all see me back in action!”

Davies scored two goals in six appearances for Sochaux before the crash. No date has been set for his return to first team action.