He cannot disguise the frustration in his voice -- or the determination. Iain Hume has a massive gash running across his scalp and his specialists won't allow him to do more than take short walks. He wants to lift weights, to jog, to play, but he can't. But at least he is alive. Just over a month ago, that was by no means a certainty for the Canadian striker. Thirty-five minutes into a typically robust English League Championship local derby against Sheffield United, Barnsley's most expensive player was felled by an elbow to the head from Sheffield defender Chris Morgan. Hume was taken off. "I don't remember much," he told me yesterday from his home. "We thought it was a mild concussion and there were not too many problems, so I went home. I slept for quite some time. But when I woke, it was clear I was not really myself. I was talking rubbish." He was rushed to hospital, diagnosed with a fractured skull and internal bleeding, and was whisked to the operating table. "One of the things they did was drill a little hole in my head to get out the blood," he said. "But, to be honest, I don't want to know the ins and outs of it." Hume is home now, much to the relief of his wife, Christine, and five-year-old daughter, Keira. "I have progressed way faster than I thought since coming home," he said. "But I am mostly confined to the house to let it heal properly. It will be six weeks before I have a brain scan to see the progress, maybe more. "I'd like to say I will be available to play again in February or March, but that is all down to the specialist. But I should be pleased. A lot of people had fears I would be gone for the season." When a player has as horrific an injury as this, there are often fears he will lose his appetite for the game. There is not an ounce of that in Iain Hume. "I can see I might be a bit apprehensive about heading the ball," he said. "But anyone who knows me here and on the Canadian team knows I wear my heart on my sleeve and I am very competitive. "If the injury was going to affect me in any way, there would be no point coming back." This is a man who cannot stand to be a spectator. Back at home from hospital, he was watching Barnsley play Swansea. His team was two goals up and cruising before letting the game slip away, drawing 2-2. "I was so buzzed," he said. "We had that game, and all of a sudden ... . I just need to be in the action. I'm not one of those to sit back and watch. I need to be involved. Always have. It's in my blood." That spirit, coupled with his goal-scoring skills, are what persuaded Barnsley to shell out more than $2 million for his services. It made him the club's most expensive player. "They were so disappointed about what happened. They took a big risk on me and this happens to them. It must really have ticked them off, but they have been brilliant. Nothing has changed, even with what happened. They are doing everything they can to get things sorted and get me fit again." And it is not only Barnsley's management that is pulling for the 25-year-old Canadian. Last weekend, he was back at the club for the first time, and before the game against Watford visited his teammates in the dressing room to wish them luck. "Everyone was surprised at how well I'm doing," he said. "They were all happy to see me. I am so glad I have made a connection with them because I have only been here three or four months." If he wanted further evidence, Peruvian international Miguel Mostto dedicated his first goal of the season to his fellow striker. "He told me that when he scored, he forgot to lift up his shirt to show another shirt underneath with my No. 7 on it. When he remembered, he raised seven fingers." Hume may have suffered a life- and career-threatening injury. It may also have been in circumstances bad enough for his club to consider court action and for MPs to demand more action against Morgan, who escaped with no more than a yellow card. Hume won't talk about that or whether or not Morgan has sought to apologize. But he is finding plenty of silver linings. He's going to play again. It won't be long before his massive head scar will be cleaned up enough for him to start shaving his head again. He's alive and on the recovery road. And he will be home for the Christmas holidays. The soccer schedule in England historically means the pros play on Boxing Day -- a huge day for the English game. His mom and dad are flying in from their Brampton, Ont., home to help with the festivities, and it is particularly important for Hume's daughter. Keira was born on Boxing Day. "I've been home on her birthday only once in the past four years, so I will really enjoy it." And what does Keira think of his scar? "Daddy's got a poorly head," she says. Not for much longer. Iain Hume will be back. Richard Starnes' Beautiful Game column appears Saturdays. Send comments and suggestions to rstarnes@thecitizen.canwest.com . or sportsletters@thecitizen.canwest.com . For daily soccer news go to Richard Starnes' blog at ottawacitizen.com . © Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen