Best 'battling' against infection

George Best received a liver transplant in 2002

Football legend George Best remains in intensive care two weeks after being admitted to a London hospital.

Best, 59, was admitted to the Cromwell Hospital with flu-like symptoms and developed a kidney infection.

His long-term doctor Professor Roger Williams said the ex-Manchester United star was battling on, but very ill.

"He has improved in certain areas and his liver is holding up well, but he has had this infection and there are various complications," he said.

Professor Williams told BBC Radio Ulster that Best, a former Northern Ireland international, was fully conscious in the private hospital.

"I saw him today and he is holding his own, but still struggling with one problem after another," he said.

"He knows he is very ill. He is a very good patient, fighting away to try to get on top of these particular problems and we are hopeful that he will. But it is quite a battle.

"The major areas of concern are under control now and one hopes he's going to get on top of the other problems fairly soon."

GEORGE BEST'S HEALTH March 2000: Severe liver damage diagnosed February 2001: Treated for pneumonia April 2001: Anti-alcohol pellets implanted into his stomach July 2002: Undergoes liver transplant November 2004: Routine operation to check on liver transplant October 2005: Treated for kidney infection in intensive care Decline of the golden boy

A recent press report claimed that Best had been close to death on at least two occasions, but Professor Williams said: "I wouldn't say quite as far as that."

He added: "He certainly wasn't well two weeks ago, that first week in ICU, he had a series of downhill problems.

"But he has come out of those and we have to just go on fighting with him."

He said he could not say if Best would soon get out of intensive care.

When Best was admitted to the hospital earlier this month, Professor Williams said that prescribed drugs needed after his 2002 liver transplant, rather than alcohol abuse, were the cause of his illness.

He said the ex-footballer had become more susceptible to infections after a course of medication to suppress the immune system and prevent his body rejecting the new liver.

At the time of his admission, Best's agent Phil Hughes said his client had been "off the drink" before being admitted to the hospital.