FORMER National Under-20 football captain and Portmore United defender Andre Darby is out of intensive care at hospital following a recent car accident.

According to Portmore’s general manager Clive Marshall, the worst has past and Darby will soon be able to resume his career once he is

fully recovered.

Marshall, who spoke with the Sunday Observer last Tuesday, happily related that the injuries of the promising defender are not career-threatening.

“He’s out of intensive care and he’s not going to need any surgery. He has no damage to the brain, no broken nothing, no fractured skull, so he’ll be able to play football once he is out,” Marshall reassured.

The 20-year-old Darby who was unconscious for almost a week after suffering head injuries in the accident on the Hellshire Road on July 10, fed himself for the first time since the accident on Tuesday, and this, Marshall pointed out, was evidence he is

making progress.

“Up until today (Tuesday) he couldn’t have a meal by himself and he was on liquid at that time, so he was also able to have something solid for the first time,” he revealed.

He added that Darby was also coherent and was communicating

with others.

“When I left the hospital he was in deep conversation with his mother,”

he noted.

No date has been set for the player to be released, or when he can resume training, but for the time being he will continue to be under observation at the University Hospital of the West Indies until further notice, Marshall stated.

“I don’t know when he’ll start therapy, but when we’re back at the ward and we get another update from the doctor, from there we could get a better idea of what is to be,” he said.

“But as it is, the news from the specialist is that he is quite good, and his football career is not threatened, so we’re all very pleased with this progress… and we’re praying and thanking God for his full recovery,”

he added.