Seattle Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani has received a lot of support from football players across the world after suffering a fractured right tibia and fibula following a challenge from Brian Mullan.

It has been a tackle that has been criticised around the world, while Brian Mullan has also been subjected to intense criticism within North America as well. However, even after a year after suffering the horrific injury, Steve Zakuani is long away from returning to the game. It was initially hoped that the player will be returning to action at the start of the season, but he has now suffered a setback in his attempts to recover from the problem.

Steve Zakuani was subjected to a horrible challenge from Brian Mullan in the match at Colorado. It is exactly one year since the incident has happened, but Steve Zakuani is no closer to returning to first-team action. It was initially expected that he would be returning to first-team action in a few weeks, while he was also to play in the reserves match against Chivas USA in order to get some fitness under his belt. However, following consultation with the medical staff at Seattle Sounders, Zakuani has decided to postpone his return.

“(Sunday marked) a year since the injury. It definitely would (have been) special to be out there. … But I have felt a little bit of pain. That’s how rehab goes. You go up a bit, and you plateau, and then you go up a bit. I’ve pushed a lot the last couple of weeks, and it may be a reaction to that. But it’s just bad timing. I don’t really think about it. The only thing I’m concerned about is getting back playing,” Zakuani said regarding his comeback to the centre of the Seattle Sounders midfield.