Ex-Premier League ace left clinically blind from firework returns to football a year on

dailystar.co.uk:

Premier League footballer has made a sensational return to football after being left clinically blind in one eye over a year ago.Ex-Manchester City and Hull City defender Omar Elabdellaoui played 90 minutes for Galatasaray on Monday during a 3-2 win against Goztepe in the Turkish Super Lig.It was his first professional appearance since 2020 when he sustained multiple eye injuries after a firework exploded in his face during a New Years Eve party.But the Norwegian defender is back in action, after fearing that he'd never be able to play at the top level again.Elabdellaoui came through the academy at City but failed to register a single league appearance, but it was a tough ask as the Citizens won their first ever Premier League title as he was promoted to a senior member.A series of loan spells followed, but the defender found his feet at Greek side Olympiacos, before enjoying a short loan spell at Hull City in 2017.Elabdellaoui signed for Galatasaray in 2020, but his first New Years party in Turkey was one to forget, as he was left blinded in one eye when a firework exploded at a party, which led 11 surgeries over the course of the following year.In an interview with the Guardian, Elabdellaoui detailed the harrowing moment that the injury occurred: "I just thought I had something in my eye and had to clear it out but then I felt my face totally burning and everything was black.Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox - don't miss a thing.It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article.