Ives Galarcep visited with U.S. striker Charlie Davies, who sustained multiple serious injuries (a broken right femur and tibia, a broken left elbow, facial fractures and a lacerated bladder) in a car accident last October -- and reports that the 23-year-old's rehabilitation is going remarkably well.

Davies has undergone six surgeries and has one more scheduled -- a procedure to remove a bone, plate and screws from his left elbow. The prognosis was that he would face a six- to 12-month recovery and extensive rehabilitation. But Davies, who is jogging at a good rate and working on agility drills, hopes to be back on the field with his French club FC Sochaux by April, meaning his chances of playing for the United States in June's World Cup should no longer be seen as a shattered dream, writes Galarcep.

Davies was a passenger in the accident that took the life of another passenger. The mental recovery has been just as difficult as the physical recovery. He acknowledges the mistake he made by breaking curfew with the national team on the night of the accident, and admits to fighting with the lingering doubts and questions about the fateful night in October.

"I couldn't sleep at night for two months," Davies said. "My mind would be racing, just thinking about how it happened and how I let this happen. How did I survive? Why did I survive? Why did I let the girl drive me home? Why couldn't I have taken a cab? When will I be back? Will I be back the same?"

 

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