‘David Luiz messaged me out of the blue’

Rob Holding received an abundance of support from the football family throughout his eight-month recovery from an ACL injury.

But perhaps the most interesting message he received came from then-Chelsea defender - and now team-mate - David Luiz.

“David Luiz messaged me out of the blue and I was taken back by it,” said Holding after completing 90 minutes in our 4-0 win over Standard Liege on Thursday night.

“He just said that it happens and that I’ve got a great career ahead of me. He told me that I just need to focus and I’ll be all good, so I felt if he was doing that for me why I can’t I do that for someone else, because it may give them a little boost. 

“I never played in the England Under-21s with Lewis Cook, but because we had the same injury at the same time and we had surgery on the same day, we’ve sort of kept in touch with each other. I remember when Sol Bamba for Cardiff did his injury too, so I also sent him a message.

“When you go through an injury like that and you're out for nine or 10 months, football and rivalry is put aside and you’re just getting behind each other. But I’m ready whenever the boss needs me now, so we’ll see what happens. I’m happy with how I’m playing at the moment and I feel comfortable.”