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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Man Utd player wins £4.5m payout | Man Utd player wins £4.5m payout |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A former Manchester United player whose career was ended when when he was injured in a tackle has been awarded more than £4.5m in compensation. | A former Manchester United player whose career was ended when when he was injured in a tackle has been awarded more than £4.5m in compensation. |
| Ben Collett, 23, broke his leg in a reserve game against Middlesbrough five years ago, at the age of 18. | Ben Collett, 23, broke his leg in a reserve game against Middlesbrough five years ago, at the age of 18. |
| Boro player Gary Smith and his club admitted liability for the injury. | Boro player Gary Smith and his club admitted liability for the injury. |
| The total compensation will be decided when sums for future loss of pension and interest on past loss of earnings are determined at a hearing in October. | The total compensation will be decided when sums for future loss of pension and interest on past loss of earnings are determined at a hearing in October. |
| Sitting at London's High Court, Mrs Justice Swift awarded the player £4.3m and said the final sum payable to Collett was unlikely to be less than £4.5m. | Sitting at London's High Court, Mrs Justice Swift awarded the player £4.3m and said the final sum payable to Collett was unlikely to be less than £4.5m. |
| Cup winner | Cup winner |
| Collett's solicitor Jan Levinson said the award "reflects Ben's talent and potential prior to the tackle as one of the brightest young footballers in the country". | Collett's solicitor Jan Levinson said the award "reflects Ben's talent and potential prior to the tackle as one of the brightest young footballers in the country". |
| He added: "Having said that, Ben would have preferred to have earned this through a full career in the game." | He added: "Having said that, Ben would have preferred to have earned this through a full career in the game." |
| The match against Middlesbrough was Collett's debut for United's reserve team. | The match against Middlesbrough was Collett's debut for United's reserve team. |
| Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson described him as an "outstanding" player. | Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson described him as an "outstanding" player. |
| Collett joined United's youth academy aged nine and went on to become a member of the club's FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2003. | |
| But his right leg was broken in two places in the match in May 2003. | But his right leg was broken in two places in the match in May 2003. |
| The compensation will be paid by Middlesbrough's insurers. | The compensation will be paid by Middlesbrough's insurers. |
| 'Fantastic focus' | 'Fantastic focus' |
| Mrs Justice Swift said had it not been for the injury Collett would have been offered a three-year professional contract with Manchester United. | Mrs Justice Swift said had it not been for the injury Collett would have been offered a three-year professional contract with Manchester United. |
| At an earlier hearing in Manchester Sir Alex said: "I thought the boy showed fantastic focus, a great attitude to work hard and they are qualities to give any player an outstanding chance in the game." | At an earlier hearing in Manchester Sir Alex said: "I thought the boy showed fantastic focus, a great attitude to work hard and they are qualities to give any player an outstanding chance in the game." |
| The court had heard that Mr Collett could have earned more than £13,000 a week, making a total in excess of £16m if he had played until the age of 35. | The court had heard that Mr Collett could have earned more than £13,000 a week, making a total in excess of £16m if he had played until the age of 35. |
| Mrs Justice Swift awarded Mr Collett £3,854,328 for future loss of earnings. During his 11 years at Manchester United, he had impressed playersand staff at all levels, from Sir Alex Ferguson and Mr Gary Neville to thecontemporaries who played alongside him Mrs Justice Swift | |
| The figure for general damages for pain and suffering, loss of amenity and loss of congenial employment was £35,000. | |
| Past loss of earnings was put at £456,095. | Past loss of earnings was put at £456,095. |
| Mrs Justice Swift said of Collett in her ruling: "I found him a most impressive young man. | |
| "He was plainly intelligent and it is clear that he has brought - and will in the future bring - to his academic studies the same dedication and commitment that he formerly applied to football." | |
| Collett plans to take up a place at Leeds University next month to study English. | |
| Other witnesses at the hearings included United captain Gary Neville. | |
| The judge said: "During his 11 years at Manchester United, he had impressed players and staff at all levels, from Sir Alex Ferguson and Mr Gary Neville to the contemporaries who played alongside him." |