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The Lonely Comeback Trail
Written by Kj talk | 24th July 2006 | 0 Comment(s)
With all the glamour that surrounds being a top football player these days it's often forgotten just how hard the players have to train and keep fit just to maintain a competitive level. Even harder then when a player has to overcome a series of career threatening injuries just to be considered available for selection.
No pre-season club tour to a far flung exotic location, not even an appearance with fellow team mates for the team photograph. Just lonely punishing sessions in the gym and lap after lap on either an exercise bike or cross country runs to build up stamina. This of course after the player my have had numerous operations on either a broken bone or serious ligament damage.
Once then the player does achieve the desired return to health it will be a major concern for the individual and club to make sure the player still maintains the level of excellence that made him a valuable asset in the first place. Perhaps after all of the recovery process has taken place comes the biggest obstacle of all, which will be over coming the psychological barrier by testing the injury in the heat of battle.
Time can only tell on that factor and in the ruthless business of professional football no sentiment can be dispensed and the player may find him self relegated from selection and then transferred to a lower league or, at worst having to retire from the game all together.
Spare then a thought for two players who could in the future be major contenders for a place in the England eleven. We saw in the world cup that after goalkeeper Paul Robinson there is a dearth of talent coming up behind him and now Sol Campbell is searching for a club after leaving Arsenal and his powers fade, a centre half is required to challenge the positions of Terry and Ferdinand.
Chris Kirkland is now on a six month lone spell at Wigan from Liverpool. He begins another season after a horrendous run of injuries that has plagued his progress since he moved from Coventry to Liverpool in 2001. One of the bright hopes of the future, he has hardly had time to shine as Kirkland has battled injury after injury. A positive must be that Kirkland is still only 25 and with a good run of games he should become a candidate for England selection.
The other forgotten man with a bag of talent but cursed by injury is the Real Madrid centre back Jonathan Woodgate. He came onto the scene five seasons ago in a vibrant Leeds team along side the other Yorkshire starlet Alan Smith. Cool and composed on the ball with an excellent reading of the game, he should have had at least 40 caps by now but in reality is still trying to find his mark in the game despite two big money transfers. First Move was to Newcastle and then to Real Madrid where he has hardly figured in two blighted seasons.
And yet the Spanish fans have stuck by the player and when he has made a brief appearance the Madrid public have given Woodgate a standing ovation such is their understanding of what the player has suffered in his frustrations to become match fit. This has included seeing a specialist in America trying to sort out a troublesome thigh muscle that impedes movement and can spread discomfort to the back.
After a brief run of games last season where Woodgate's form was impressive he broke down in the Champions league fixture against Arsenal and the rehabilitation process began all once more.
For some players eventually a premature ending of their careers becomes inevitable as the range of options runs dry and the body succumbs to a cruel fate. For others they battle through the injuries and become top stars. Let's remember that Bryan Robson broke his leg three times before he was twenty one and also Alan Shearer fought back against two cruciate knee ligament injuries.
I do remember watching TV clip once on ex Arsenal starlet Stuart Robson who was at the time injured whilst playing for Coventry. He was in a circular machine somewhat reminiscent to what the children's puppet Joe 9O used to be in. Their however is where any similarities ended as Robson was being pulled in every direction with all sinew and muscle under the most intense pressure.
It made a lasting impression on me and gave me an in sight in to the other side of what can happen to a professional player and the dedication they have to have to compete at the top level. A full recovery must be the hope of these Forgotten England men and I wish them an injury free season ahead.
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