A footballer whose dream of turning professional was destroyed when he suffered a brain injury in a brutal holiday attack is in talks with Great Britain’s Paralympic 2012 football team.

Robbie Hughes, of Wallington, miraculously survived four life-saving operations to his skull after he had his head stamped on outside a Malia nightclub on June 17, 2008.

The former Sutton United and Croydon Athletic player suffered a 15-year memory loss and was told by doctors he risked his life if he played without a protective helmet.

But Mr Hughes remained determined to revive his football career and embarked on a rigorous fitness and skills regime.

After a few games with Bromley Football Club and Welling United last year Mr Hughes stopped playing to concentrate on his rehabilitation.

Now his dreams of playing professionally could be renewed after Jeff Davis from the Football Association phoned him for talks on being included in the country’s elite disability squad.

Mr Davis, the FA’s national manager for disability football, said: “People hear the word disability and they think it’s not for them, but once they see the standard here, they think differently.

“It would be great for Robbie to come up and see what we do. There is a great opportunity here.”

Mr Hughes has faced an uphill struggle since he emerged from his coma paralysed and had to be taught to walk again.

If he joins the squad he could train with the likes of Michael Barker, a 22 year-old who played at Everton's centre of excellence prior to sustaining a head injury and scored four to lead GB to bronze in this year’s BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Robbie Hughes’ mother Maggie Hughes said: “Everyone needs a start up in life.

“From where Robbie has come from and where he is now, it has been an tough journey.

“People see what has happened to him, but really it’s what happens behind the scenes that matters.

“He has lost his sense of smell and taste. You can imagine how it might feel; it’s distressing.

“Something like this could give him the pick up that he needs. Football was all he ever dreamed about and wanted to do.”