5 players who hit their peak after suffering a career-threatening injury

#2 Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer of Newcastle United receives treatment

Former England, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United great Alan Shearer is the most prolific striker in the history of the English Premier League with a total of 260 goals. However, Shearer's career as a footballer could have been heavily curtailed due to injuries, not once but twice.

Following his move to Blackburn Rovers in 1992, Shearer started well but he soon suffered a terrible injury in a game against Leeds United. He tore his right anterior cruciate ligament and could only return to the fold in the following season.

However, when he returned he was better than ever and scored 34 goals for Blackburn in the 1993-94 season and in the following season, scored 37 goals in all competitions as the club won the Premier League title.

In 1996, Shearer moved to Newcastle United in a then record-breaking transfer that was worth £15 million and in his very first season he scored 28 goals for the club. However, in the next season, an injury to his ankle ligaments severely curtailed his season and he could only appear in 23 games and score 7 goals all season.

It appeared that the terrible injury would eventually end the career of one of England's best forwards. However, Shearer recovered and returned to become one of the best strikers in the league. He scored 21 goals in the next season and continued in a healthy vein of form as a striker in the following years, to end up with 379 career goals.