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Jonathan Hogg goes from hospital scans to Premier League playoff final

Huddersfield's Jonathan Hogg feared for his career two months ago and is determined to make the most of an extraordinary reprieve in Monday's Championship final against Reading.

Hogg's tireless midfield displays this season have been key to Huddersfield's success as they stand on the brink of a first appearance in the top flight for 45 years.

But the 28-year-old thought his season was over in March after being told by doctors he had fractured his neck when colliding with teammate Mark Hudson at Bristol City.

"It was really scary," said Hogg, who lay prone for 15 minutes at Ashton Gate before being stretchered off. "When the doctors and the specialists said I'd fractured my spine, which was quite scary, I didn't have a clue what to think.

"I was worried about my career. I knew the season was definitely going to be over."

Hogg's initial diagnosis at Bristol Royal Infirmary was season-ending, but following a later review of the scans it was confirmed he had not suffered a fracture.

"I've seen four or five specialists now and they've said just crack on," he said. "I couldn't believe my luck.

"I thought the season was definitely done. We were doing so well, and we were going to be there or thereabouts, pushing for automatic, or getting into the playoffs.

"It was a big reality check and it just scares you more than anything else. I'm just so glad to be back playing. To be with the lads and get to this stage where we are.

"One minute it was gone, and the next minute it was round the corner and I'm back in the mix of it. It's a relief."

Hogg has some unfinished business at Wembley, having played for Watford in their defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2013 Championship playoff final.

Two weeks earlier, the Middlesbrough-born midfielder had stepped off the bench to set up Troy Deeney's last-gasp winner for Watford in the home leg of their semi-final against Leicester. That came just 20 seconds after Anthony Knockaert's stoppage-time penalty had been saved at the other end.

"That was a pretty crazy feeling," Hogg said. "One minute you think you're gone, your season is finished, go on holiday.

"They get a penalty last minute, and (Manuel) Almunia made a double save and we went to the other end and scored.

"I have never felt anything like that before. That's got to be my best moment in football.

"One minute your dreams have gone, they have been shattered. Then all of a sudden you are down the other end and you have 25,000 people running on the pitch at the same time."

Huddersfield will be promoted to the Premier League for the first time if they can overcome Jaap Stam's Reading on Monday and Hogg said that would eclipse the drama that had unfolded four years ago at Vicarage Road.

"What we are doing here now, if we do make that final step, 100 per cent it will top it," he added. "We all want to play in the Premier League. That's why you play football, to play at the highest level.

"We've been written off from day one. Everyone always expected us to drop off and tail away, but we've proved a lot of critics wrong."

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