Parnaby fears for long-term fitness after latest injury

Nov 25 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

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“The first thing that enters your head is that will it be a long term problem. I know that it’s a bad way to think but that’s just the way it is. I’ve been thinking how long will I be able to stick it.

“It’s something that has been lying idle for a while, it was years ago when I first did it.

‘‘I slipped a disc and had another disc pushing on to a big nerve that runs down my back. It gives you irritation in other places but I had just a big spasm in my back for a week or two.

‘‘I had an injection to sort it out and hopefully that will settle it for a while and get me through the rest of the season.

“I couldn’t sleep for a week, it was ridiculous. When it’s on the nerve it effects everything but the doctor sorted me out with some decent pills, which helped me out a bit.

“Fingers crossed, I can just keep doing my exercises as much as I can and strengthen it as much as I can. Then I might be able to get away with it.

“Now I feel more confident, I’m moving around quite well now and I’ve just got to be patient then hopefully it will sort itself out.”

Parnaby’s Blues career has been dogged by various knocks and niggles since he was signed by Steve Bruce on a free from Middlesbrough in June 2007.

“It has been three years of stop-start really,” agreed the ex-England Under-21 international.

“I’ve still enjoyed it though. I made 22 appearances last season but that was the whole of the first half of the season and I missed the whole of the second half.

“It’s just frustrating because when I’ve played I think I’ve done reasonably well.”