There was a tingling sensation up and down my spine
Posted Thursday, March 29, 2012 by The Sun
STUNNED ... worried Nigel Reo-Coker looks on as medics treat Fabrice Muamba
"But I didn't have to put my arm round any of the young lads.
"I felt they gave a very good account of themselves.
"It definitely helped that the tie took place so close to the date of the original incident.
"It helps that we can come back here and play this game.
"I could never tell you how long it will take for people to totally get over their reactions to what happened.
"It might take years for people to get over it — I don't know, I'm not a psychiatrist.
"The last 10 days have felt like years to us.
"It has felt like such a long period of time.
"But from where we were last Saturday, to where we and Fabrice are now — all we can do is thank God.
"On a personal level, people were asking me how I would feel to come back here.
"But I told them I couldn't answer that. I would have been lying.
"It was all a different story when we walked on to the pitch and arrived at the stadium before the game. And for me I did have a tingle down my spine.
"When I came on the pitch before the game, I had to walk over to the area where the incident occurred, just for my own benefit.
"I couldn't tell you how I felt as the game wore on. We had a job to do and I had to control myself as much as possible."
With the players facing such a strain it was felt that some might crack.
But Reo-Coker has been grateful for the personal support he and the rest of the Trotters squad have received.
He admitted: "People have texted me asking me how I am. But it was never about me.
"It was always about Fabrice — and where he is now is amazing. We've got to be thankful for that.
"The fighting spirit he's shown is something we've got to take on ourselves for the rest of the season.
"We get updates every day, he is our colleague, our team-mate and it's good to get the updates.
"Some of the staff saw him earlier in the week and he's getting better and better."
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