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EYE INFECTION TROUBLING DEMERIT
Arch Bell - Thursday, September 24, 2009

A bizarre eye injury looks like it will keep Watford defender Jay DeMerit out of action for the near future.

DeMerit had just recuperated from a minor groin injury when he said the injury took place while Watford were playing at Plymouth.

"It was a freak thing," DeMerit recently recalled to YA. "We were in our hotel and as I took out my contact, it cut my eye and I ended up getting an infection from that cut. It only got worse and worse and I still can't see out of that eye."

The US national team player had enjoyed a productive summer where he played an integral role in the national team's run to the Confederations Cup final, highlighted by an effort in the semifinal versus Spain where DeMerit helped keep strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa in check.

The native of Green Bay, Wisconsin is still hoping to be a part of Bob Bradley's squad in next month's World Cup qualifiers, but the 29 year-old concedes that his eye issue may instead force him into the operating room and rule him out of October's crucial encounters.

"Scar tissue is starting to develop which is blurring my vision so I'm seeing a specialist and I might have to have surgery," continued DeMerit. "I quickly recovered from my groin injury but my eye is going to take time."

In addition to missing time with the national team, DeMerit's eye infection has limited the former University of Illinois at Chicago standout to just five matches overall this season for Watford.

Knowing that an injury to such a sensitive body part like the eye is serious predicament for any professional athlete, DeMerit is fully aware that the most important approach to his recovery will be patience and letting everything take its course.

"You just can't mess with your eyes so I'm going to manage it right and try to get better as soon as possible whether it's through surgery or another course of action," he concluded.

In over five season with Watford, DeMerit has appeared in over 170 matches overall scoring ten goals.



See these related articles Recap: Midweek Carling Cup action Recap: Weekend English action DeMerit recovered from groin injury		Page tools Print this page Send this page to a friend Contact author

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11 Comments | Add a comment?

Wednesday September 30, 2009 7:00 pm	On the plus side, you get to pick out some cool eye-protective glasses and look supercool like Edgar Davids out on the field! (Sorry, I couldn't help a little levity.) Seriously, thoughts and prayers are with you, Jay. Eyesight clearly goes well beyond the game of soccer. — Marko

Monday September 28, 2009 6:04 pm	jay get better soon, u make our us team full n tough with gooch,spector in bocca so heal n mend,when we draw england in our wc group whos going to bucther rooney......................your job mush fight fight n get well thinking of u — LEE SHELLEY UK

Monday September 28, 2009 2:45 pm	Take all the best care Jay. Hang in there. You are in our thoughts and prayers. — Tiger

Monday September 28, 2009 2:38 pm	Take the best care possible Jay. Hang in there. You are in our thoughts and prayers. All the best. — Tiger

Friday September 25, 2009 4:09 pm	Awful news. I'm not American so I have no interest in the US national team, I'm a Watford fan though, and we shall severely miss Jay. Take your time Jay, come back when your ready son! — Liam

Friday September 25, 2009 9:02 am	This is downright awful news. Boca honestly isn't as good in a central position, and he is needed at leftback, anyway. Marshall and Goodson simply aren't that good. — dude

Friday September 25, 2009 6:03 am	Well he certainly has to deal with this for his own well being. But it truly is a shame, as he was really establishing himself as a starter on the National team, and there are only so many other viable candidates to play the CB position. I would expect that coach Bradley will keep Bocanegra at CB teamed with Onyewu, but that still leaves the LB spot in question... will Bob call in Castillo or not? This injury makes Maurice Edu's progress even more important, as he has played central defense for the Olympic Team last year, but we are still rather light on central defenders of quality. I guess we can only hope that DeMerit fully recovers... but Bradley and his staff are going to have to make contingency plans in case he doesn't make it back in time for next summers games. — Robert Kiernan

Friday September 25, 2009 1:57 am	Well, too bad for Jay right now. But, he is professional, and I am sure he will make the right decisions for himself. As far as the U.S. National Team is concerned, I believe that although good defenders aren´t in abundance in the MLS or abroad for the U.S. , who could play at the international level, Bob Bradley is surely experianced enough to find a solution for this or some of the other problems which may arise. Once again: good luck to Jay. — Giovanni Ventura

Thursday September 24, 2009 10:24 pm	ohhh shoot this isnt good omg please i hope it heals soon the USA dont need this and at the same time i dont want any1 to be blind in one eye yooo dude needs to go 2 da eye doctor and get dis treated 2morrow or something if we lose him thats a big loss for the USA but we got people like orozco who can fill in but yo i ont want it to come 2 dat god forbid it comes to dat — Idahosa

Thursday September 24, 2009 8:49 pm	This is not good news at all...for Jay and for the Nats. — C.C.

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