Exclusive: Bree reveals how he recovered in 5 days from crutches to play 90 minutes

James Bree admits he was “scared” about the damage he’d suffered in a horror challenge that looked like a season ender, but praised Luton’s medical team and an innovative therapy for getting him back on the pitch for the play-offs in double-quick time. 

The right back has had a stellar season and up until January’s league clash at Reading had played every minute of Town’s Championship and FA Cup campaign. His lay-off with a tight hamstring was short, missing just one more game before returning. 

But a month ago Bree was on the painful end of a challenge from Cardiff defender Joel Bagan that boss Nathan Jones called ‘diabolical’, with fears that the ankle injury was serious enough to end the right back’s season.

But, remarkably, the defender went from crutches and a protective boot to being a surprise starter for the final game of the regular season against Reading on Saturday, in which Harry Cornick’s sneaky goal secured Town’s place in the play-offs. 

Talking at the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Awards on Sunday, Bree said: “After the Cardiff game, my initial thoughts and how it felt, it didn’t feel great. I was quite scared. I had an MRI scan and got the results back and it didn’t look great. But, in myself, it felt OK and all the physio staff have looked after me really well.

“I had a couple of injections in it, and it’s gone really well. I was still on crutches and can barely walk five days ago, so to play was a little bit of a push, but I got out there. 

“It was a little bit sore, but I managed it well and obviously we won’t the game, so that was the most important thing. It should be fine going into the next couple.”

At the Blackpool game four days after his injury, Bree was in the stands at Kenilworth Road in a protective boot. Asked how it was possible to then be on the pitch, playing a full 90 minutes, just two weeks later, the 24-year-old said: “The swelling on it was crazy. I went into London and had a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection. I don’t actually know what it does or what it is, but after that I just started getting the feeling back.

“The swelling went down and I think it was just a case of the position and the situation we’re in as a team, trying to rush players back and get back in, obviously I wanted to play. It was a big, important game and I think I needed to be back and the staff and the players are glad to have me back. 

“I just pushed myself and I got out of the boot five days ago, straight onto the tread mill, ran 80 per cent and then straight back onto the grass and trained with the lads.

“Obviously, I have little niggles and it’s quite sore, but I just had to get through it and do it through the team.”

Asked if, to get through the play-off semi-final showdown with Huddersfield on Friday, he’ll have to undergo more treatment like the PRP injection, which uses a patient’s own blood cells to accelerate healing in a specific area, Bree said: “I should be OK now, fingers crossed. We’re all pretty happy with it, but I feel strong in myself. 

“Fingers crossed, everything goes well in the next couple of games and, if and when we get to the final, I’ll be alright as well.”

Bree has now played 43 times for Town this term, as he has established himself as one of the first names on Jones’ team sheets. 

He said: “On a personal level, I’m delighted about the season. I sat down with the gaffer and (first-team coach) Chris Cohen before the start of the season and said, ‘this year’s just all about me solidifying that place in the staring 11, getting through it with no injuries. 

“I started 42 games this year and played nearly everything. I was gutted when I got a little hamstring injury earlier in the season, because I wanted to play all 46 games. It’s a tough challenge to do sometimes. 

“But, on a personal level, just getting a run of games under my belt, I think you can see, and I think all the fans can see, that when I do that I’m such a better player. Fitness-wise, I’m flying at the minute and football is coming easy. 

“I’ve had a bit of a stop-start career before coming to Luton, and I really just wanted to crack on and I love the lads, love the club and I really enjoy playing football here, so long may that continue.”