A young described by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as an "outstanding" player, was today awarded more than £4.3 million damages at the High Court in London over a tackle which ended his career.
But the compensation to be received by 23-year-old Ben Collett will be even greater when sums for future loss of pension and interest on past loss of earnings are determined at a hearing set for October.
Mrs Justice Swift, sitting in London, today announced that when all of the figures were decided, the final sum to be awarded was not likely to be less than £4.5 million.
At a recent hearing in Manchester, Sir Alex said Collett had an "outstanding chance" of becoming a full-time professional if he had not been injured.
Collett, 23, joined United's youth academy aged nine and signed youth contracts, becoming part of the club's FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2003.
But, aged 18 and in his first game in the reserves in May 2003, he had his right leg broken in two places in a tackle by Middlesbrough FC's Gary Smith.
Both Smith and the club admitted liability for the "negligent" tackle and the judge's task was to decide on the level of compensation that Collett should receive from Middlesbrough's insurers.
Mrs Justice Swift said she had found that had it not been for the injury Collett would have been offered, in July 2003, a three-year professional contract with Manchester United.
Collett, who was in court today, was unable to forge a career in the professional game after the injury and is now studying.
Sir Alex told Manchester High Court during the earlier hearing: "I thought the boy showed fantastic focus, a great attitude to work hard and they are qualities to give any player an outstanding chance in the game."
Sir Alex said Manchester United had been built around young sides from the time of Sir Matt Busby in the 1950s.
He said Collett had played in the FA Youth Cup-winning side in 1992, as had David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville, also products of the academy.
The court had heard that Collett could have earned more than £13,000 a week, making a total in excess of £16 million, if he had played until the age of 35.
United legend Paddy Crerand said the youngster was a Giggs type of player and could have gone on to become a household name.
Today Mrs Justice Swift awarded Collett £3,854,328 for future loss of earnings.
The sum for general damages for pain and suffering, loss of amenity and loss of congenial employment - which had been agreed between the parties - was £35,000.
Past loss of earnings was put at £456,095.
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