Time is a healer for Rhys Weston
Sep 12 2008 By Roger Clarke
DEFENDER Rhys Weston has a smile on his face again as his calf injury can be finally put behind him.
The 27-year-old Welsh International last played a senior game since the last home game of the season in May and has been handicapped by an injury which has not allowed him to recover completely.
Weston says it is the fact he has been unable to change pace or step up a gear which has been the problem in what has been a frustrating time for the ex-Arsenal right back.
He said: “It has been a long, long time. I played with the reserves this week and that was my second game since May. I have two games with the reserves under my belt now and I am enjoying being back training and feel I am well on the way now to recovery.
“I got to a certain point and it just kept restricting me. We tried various forms of rehab but I think time was the greatest healer. I tried to come back a couple of times a bit too early and set myself back but I am over that. I have been back in training a couple of weeks now and hopefully I will be back in the squad.
“It has been difficult – footballers are not the best spectators when they are watching their own team play. I have been fortunate in my career with injuries though so you take it on the chin.
“Being back is like being a kid again. You get the enthusiasm and everything takes on a new meaning and I am joying being back in the fold and all the banter, you miss that.
“You get institutionalised at times but Jon (Whitney) the physio has been fantastic and worked tirelessly made it as interesting as possible and I can’t think him enough for his efforts.
“I am strong as well, I have lifted every weight possible, it is just trying to get match fitness back. We will see what happens over the next couple of weeks as see if I can force may way back into the reckoning.”
Weston, in his second season, finds it difficult to draw comparisons with last season’s team. “It is a different team with different kinds of players. You look at last season’s achievement as we were looking good for the play offs for a long time but for one reason and other it did not happen.
“But on paper we have bought two very good play ers, some experience and some quality. Keeping everyone fit is a massive thing for us. If we can achieve that we are as good as anyone in this division.
“There are some good teams in this division and it is still early days but there is no reason whey we cannot put a run together similar to last season.
"After seven games last season we were rock bottom so there is an improvement on that front. There has been inconsistency on results but performance-wise we are not playing too badly and we are not far from putting things together.”
