Former Liverpool youth prospect Michael Ngoo has revealed that he was physically and mentally damaged after a bad tackle by Reds star Virgil van Dijk - but has now forgiven the Dutchman.
Ngoo joined Liverpool as a youth player in 2009.
He trained with the Reds but never played a senior minute, before having loan spells at Hearts, Yeovil and Walsall.
He then signed a permanent deal with Kilmarnock in 2014, and was making just his sixth appearance for the Scottish side when he was injured by Van Dijk while playing a fixture against Celtic.
"I wasn't just injured physically – I was psychologically shattered, as well," Ngoo said in an interview with Planet Football this month.
"Before I had my first operation, the specialist said to me that if my rehab did not go to plan then I would not play professional football again.
"He made that clear. I went through a very bad time.
"I was stressed and reflecting on what I should do because I thought that I might not be able to kick a ball again."
Ngoo said in 2014: "I told our physio right away that Van Dijk had tried to do me.
"Before the tackle, there were a few words said between us. Then he came through the back of me."
But Ngoo later forgave the Netherlands international, saying: "Van Dijk apologised through John Guidetti, a friend of mine, who was on loan at Celtic at the time.
"The damage had been done, but I don't hold any grudges."
Ngoo joined Albanian side Tirana in 2017 where he made 72 appearances, but left earlier this calendar year to represent Enosis Neon Paralimni in Cyprus.
