From NOTW: USA star Jay DeMerit has revealed the moment he thought he would never see again - let alone kick a ball at the World Cup. Three months ago, the Watford defender contracted an infection in his right eye which threatened to leave him partially blind. DeMerit, 30, had emergency surgery to replace the cornea after the bacteria formed an absyss around the pupil and destroyed 70 per cent of eye tissue. DeMerit, 30, said: "The cut in my cornea came when I got a piece of grit under my contact lens. The cut got bigger, more serious. That's when the infection began to grow. "I would have lost sight completely if I hadn't had surgery. "When it happened, I wasn't thinking about football. I was thinking if I was ever going to be able to see again." DeMerit made a return to action as sub during the 3-1 win over QPR last week - and now aims to make the World Cup showdown with England. And with the lure of the World Cup clash on the horizon, DeMerit says the pain and agony of the past few months will all be worthwhile if he gets to pit his wits against Fabio Capello's men. He added: "That's the beauty of what we do for living. "Things change in the matter of days and weeks and you have to be positive in life. "You couldn't have planned anything more perfect than getting England in the World Cup. "A lot of things can still happen and I need to do the right things to make sure I'm ready."
