Former United Player Awarded £4.5m

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 compen-

sation.

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 admit-

ted 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.

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

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."

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.

Collett joined United's youth academy aged nine and went in 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.

The compensation will be paid by Middlesbrough's insurers.

'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.

At an earlier hearing in Manchester Sir Alex said: "I thought the boy showed fant-

astic 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.

Mrs Justice Swift awarded Mr Collett £3,854,328 for future loss of earnings.

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.