IF Scott Nicholls had not sought urgent medical advice his current injuries could have proved much worse.It has emerged that the Ipswich Evening Star Witches captain, who will be 26 later this month, had a blood clot in his left leg and this could have been potentially fatal.

IF Scott Nicholls had not sought urgent medical advice his current injuries could have proved much worse.

It has emerged that the Ipswich Evening Star Witches captain, who will be 26 later this month, had a blood clot in his left leg and this could have been potentially fatal.

Nicholls also suffered a severe burn in a fall involving Leigh Adams at Foxhall Stadium on Saturday, April 24.

Surgeons discovered a thrombosis in his left leg and if this had remained untreated it could have had serious implications.

This problem was dealt with at the same time as the Saturday night operation to graft new skin over the wound behind Nicholls' knee. Damage to his blood vessels was repaired.

Nicholls was recommended a surgeon by the Charlton Athletic football club physio after advice from footballer Graham Stuart, who is a keen supporter of the Grand Prix star.

Arrangements were made for the Witches' skipper to go straight to a Chelmsford hospital after he returned from Stockholm on Saturday. The surgeon who performed the operation is the same who has treated Ipswich burns victim Terri Calvesbert.

Initial thoughts are that Nicholls can still make the Czech Republic Grand Prix in Prague on Saturday week, but a better picture will emerge later in the week.

“I have trust in the people around me and will do as they say,” said Nicholls.

“I want to be 100 per cent and be clear of any problems before I return. The Prague meeting would be a one-off. The surgeon is happy with how the operation went and it appears I have been a lucky lad.

“I am obviously very frustrated but my thoughts are on making a full recovery and returning to the Witches side as soon as possible.

“It's an unfortunate start to my GP campaign, but it's a long series so I'll have to work extremely hard to work my way back through the field.”