By Roger O'Brien
February 25 2010

Two years ago Manchester United season ticket holder Private Dave Tatlock was told he would never walk again, but on Sunday the 20-year-old will march out onto the Wembley turf in front of 90,000 fans to place the Carling Cup on its plinth in the lead up to kick-off. Victim of a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan in July 2008, doctors broke the news to Private Tatlock that the shrapnel in his spine - embedded as a result of the 30mm high explosive rounds from an Apache Helicopter that missed the intended target - had left him paralysed.

But four weeks into the recovery, feeling slowly spread back into his legs and after 12 weeks confined to a bed to soak away the swelling, Tatlock progressed on to Headley Court, the defence centre for military rehabilitation in Surrey. He now walks with just a stick and hopes an impending operation will leave him wholly independent.

On Sunday, in continuation of the partnership between Help for Heroes and The Football League, the Manchester United season-ticket holder will mark the next step of his remarkable recovery in front of a full-house at the home of football by placing the Carling Cup in its ceremonial pre-match position as the side he supports square up to Aston Villa ahead of the Carling Cup Final.

Walking at Wembley

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