FORMER Celtc ace John Hartson was "close to losing an eye" after a golf buggy crashed into a tree.

The Hoops star reportedly needed 48 stitches in his head after the accident and was told he would need plastic surgery.

Evening Times columnist John turned up to amateur football club sportsman’s dinner in Kincardineshire with his head bandaged following the accident, which occurred while he was playing golf near his Peebles home on Wednesday.

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Cowie Thistle treasurer Neil Cursiter told the Daily Record: “He was open about what had happened as there were 100 people waiting to hear about it at the event.

“He told us it was close to him losing an eye. He explained that he had been rushed into theatre and there was blood everywhere. The surgeons told him he would need plastic surgery.

“He had clearly been in the wars so it is a credit to John that he turned up at our event.”

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Asked about the golf buggy crash yesterday, the 43-year-old told the site: “I don’t want to go into it all right now.”