Blues favourite looks for ‘leading’ role with rescue dog Lexi
23 July 2018
He was a fan's favourite as a tough-tackling star of Birmingham City and Wales, but Malcolm Page was certainly not known for his ‘softer side’!
However when Malcolm, who made 391 appearances for The Blues, underwent a knee replacement operation recently his main goal was to get back on his feet so he could walk his new ‘rescue dog’ Lexi.
“We had only just got her when I had to go into hospital,” he explained, “So once the operation was over I was keen to get back on my feet so I could take her out walking.”
The Cavalier King Charles is the sixth rescue dog Malcolm and his wife Mary have had over the past 40 years and she has quickly settled down in the couple’s Solihull home.
“I know a lot of people like to get a pup they can train themselves but there are lots of lovely dogs that, for one reason or another, are in need of a new home.
“They are all different but they settle in well and soon become a part of the family,” he said.
Seventy-one-year-old Malcolm had his right knee replaced three years ago and was soon up and about. But as his left knee began to give him increasing amounts of pain he decided it was time to go back ‘under the knife’.
Both operations were carried out at Spire Parkway Hospital, Solihull, Birmingham by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Ved Goswami who said: “Malcolm played football at a very high level for many years so there is no wonder that as he reached his late 60s his knees were ‘well worn’ to say the least.
“The fact that he has kept himself so fit has helped delay the need for replacements and will also help him when it comes to making a quicker recovery.
“I know he’s already taking his dog on short walks but I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s striding out for miles at a time.”
The other target Malcolm has set himself if to get back on the golf course where he can often be seen battling it out with former Villa legend Peter Withe.
“Mr Goswami has once again done a great job and although I won’t risk damaging the knee it’s a case of the sooner the better as far as I’m concerned so I’ll be sticking to my physiotherapy routines with the hope of getting some golf in before the end of the summer,” he said.
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