I was scared, admits Hearts star Bouzid

HEARTS star Ismael Bouzid today admitted he was frozen with fear when he was told he may have fractured his skull in the friendly match against Millwall.

The big defender was today poised to return to action against Hamilton Accies for the first time since taking a thundering kick to the back of his head as he battled for possession with Steve Morison at the New Den last month.

Initial scans provoked real worry that the Algerian had suffered a break in a bone at the back of his head but, after a terrifying 24-hour wait, a specialist allayed those fears.

Bouzid revealed that any thoughts of what an injury of that nature could do to his footballing career or when he would play again were forced from his mind in the immediate aftermath of the challenge as searing pain shot through his head.

He said: "The first half hour after the injury was very difficult for me because I had suffered a very hard kick and the shock was very hard, it was not good for me.

"On that first day I couldn't move my head very well, but the second day it was better and the doctor told me that I didn't have a fracture.

"When I was in accident and emergency, the doctor told me that he thought it was a fracture.

"I couldn't move my head at that point and I was scared. The doctor told me that he had never seen a fracture in that area of someone's head before and so it was a big panic for me.

"When the specialist told me there was no fracture it was good, but he told me that I had to relax for some days and to be careful."