Leg Break led to Career Break for Will Packwood

Will Packwood was on the road to becoming an established Birmingham City player. Coming from the club’s academy, he eventually forced his way into the first team before he horrifically broke his leg in an FA Cup clash at Leeds United in January 2013.

His broken tibia and fibula were a result of an awkward landing after an aerial challenge – the injury kept him out of action for eight long months.

Despite recovering well and returning to the first team fold as a central defender – and also picking up the Championship`s ‘young player of the month` award in February 2014 – Packwood`s time at Blues soon came to an end. After the sacking of Lee Clark, his career went on a downward trajectory.

Gary Rowett farmed the American out on loan to Cheltenham Town. At the time, the loan move was seen as an opportunity for Packwood to earn himself a new contract at St. Andrew`s. But despite a successful loan spell at Whaddon Road, the Massachusetts-born defender was heading for the exit door at Blues with the club deciding against triggering the one year option on his contract.

From that point, a host of opportunities presented themselves to Packwood. MLS side New England Revolution invited him along to train with their first team. After a fortnight of hard graft in America, it was decided that Revolution were not going to be offering Packwood a contract.

Since that rejection, Packwood has struggled to find himself a club. He remains in his home nation hopeful of another opportunity and hasn`t ruled out a return to England.

Packwood carries a mature footballing intelligence and reads the game extremely well. But after circumstances conspired against him and injuries scuppered his immediate future, Packwood is officially on the football scrapheap. At the age of 23, this is a vital time in his career if only that one call would come in and allow him to show off his abilities.