Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Joe Ledley broke down in tears when convinced his Euro 2016 dream was over. But having made an amazing recovery from a broken leg, he now feels like an “excited schoolboy”.

Crystal Palace midfielder Ledley came off injured against Stoke on May 7 in the Eagles’ penultimate League game. An X-ray 48 hours later showed he had sustained a hairline fracture of his fibula, which ruled him out of the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

The 29-year-old from Cardiff also feared the worst for his dream of representing Wales at their first major finals since 1958 after playing a key role in qualifying.

Ledley admitted: “When I first did it, I thought I didn’t break my leg. Then, two days later, I had the X-ray and it was fractured and broken. I thought that was game over, as it was only three weeks before the squad was going to be named.

(Image: Man Utd via Getty)

“You shed a tear, because I have worked my socks off and been in every single qualification game, when available.

“I wanted to be part of the history of making that squad after making the first tournament for 50-odd years. When you think, 'Am I going to make it or not?', it is hard to take.”

But all Ledley’s intensive recovery efforts — which included using an oxygen chamber and a hi-tech machine to stimulate bone repair - have thoroughly paid off.

He returned as a 69th-minute sub against Slovakia on Saturday to swing the game back in Wales’ favour after they had been pegged back to 1-1, and helped assist Hal Robson-Kanu’s late winner.

Read more:

After earning his 62nd cap, Ledley reflected: “I was excited and emotional - it was like playing football in school again. I have been through a lot and it was great to be on that pitch – it was one of the best feelings ever.”

The star then revealed the lengths he went to as he raced against time to first make Chris Coleman’s provisional squad, and then the final 23.

In pictures — Wales beat Slovakia 2-1 in their Euro 2016 opener:

He is indebted to Palace’s physio Sean Connolly - who, helpfully, is not only also Wales’ head physio but was at Cardiff City previously with the midfielder, too.

Ledley added: “When you first see the X-ray, I think everyone thought I was going to be ruled out, but it wasn’t just the Euros it was the FA Cup final as well which I missed out on.

Read more:

“There was no chance I was going to play in that - it was only a week later. I was gutted, but from there I was determined to make the Euros after missing out on that.

“I had a lot of messages from Welsh players, staff and ex-players and ex-staff as well. It meant a lot as they knew I was devastated and thought I wasn’t going to be involved. They kept saying keep your head up and hopefully you can make it — and it has paid off.

(Image: Getty) (Image: REUTERS) (Image: Getty)

“It is a remarkable achievement what I have done. It was a lot of hard work off the pitch with the physio and with the staff – long days and long training sessions.

“Everything I had to do — supplements... whatever I could do to make my body better — I did, and positive thinking helped.

Read more:

"I went in an oxygen chamber for the first two weeks - I left my house at 6am to be there for 7am for an hour and 45 minutes. Then back to the training ground to start the work, then back home, recover and use machines, it was non-stop.

“By the time I got through that door it was time to go to bed, really, but I then used an Exogen machine, which created the bone cells quicker, for 20 minutes before bed.

“After a week of hard work in the oxygen chamber getting cells back, I got belief from there. Everything just fell into place. The physio believed in me and you could see the bone developing.

“I had him [Connolly] at Cardiff as well. I think he knows my body better than I do. Without him I don’t think I would be here now.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Ledley’s club and international room-mate Wayne Hennessey helped encourage him after the goalkeeper’s own injury nightmares with two cruciate knee ligament injuries.

“When people saw me training, running on the machines and on the bike, people never would have thought I had broken my leg,” added Ledley.

Read more:

The midfielder says no-one has yet clattered into him, but he insists he is now fit to start against England in Lens on Thursday.

Victory will leave the old enemy on the ropes and facing group-stage elimination, but Ledley insisted: “Our motivation is if we win we qualify for the last 16. It is all about us.”