A FOOTBALLER who was left in a coma after being attacked on a night out in Derry last month has said he is "taken aback" by the level of support he has received.
Niall Grace (24), who plays for Institute FC in Derry, had been in an induced coma for more than a week in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
He sustained a serious head injury in Waterloo Street in Derry in the early hours of Sunday September 11.
The assault happened as thousands of people were in the city for the Club MTV event at Ebrington Square.
Chairman Bill Anderson and Niall Grace celebrating our late winner today!
— Institute F.C. (@Institute_FC) October 8, 2016
Great to have you back big man! pic.twitter.com/RzRyptnb4u
On Saturday the player was in the crowd once more as his team scored a last-minute winner to defeat Lurgan Celtic 2-1.
Mr Grace told BBC Radio Foyle: "Each day it is getting better and better but I am just grateful to be out and about and getting to watch a bit of football."
"Everybody else is telling me that they are a bit surprised to see me back on my feet so early.
"I am still coming to terms with everything, how close it was. It is hard to grasp how close I came."
He added: "I can't thank people enough. It has taken me aback."
The midfielder said he now "just wants to get back playing football".
Mr Grace is from Shantallow and signed with Institute FC last December having formerly played in the Milk Cup and as a schoolboy international.
Following the serious assault a 22-year-old man was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent.
