West Brom: Jerome Thomas understands injury frustration of West Brom teammates

Nov 28 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

JAMES Morrison may well be going through the mill.

Frustrated he can’t play, angry he’s missing out, a sense of being on the outside looking in, while Albion continue to soar on the field.

And all because of a freak injury. A blister on his heel turned septic, recovery has been stop-start and, before you know it, complications have set in and the midfielder is now about to start his seventh month on the sidelines.

Yet Jerome Thomas knows a thing or two about being more familiar with the treatment table than the league table.

The Albion winger spent the best part of a whole season laid up with a broken back during his time at Portsmouth.

What should have been a new start for the Londoner, following several seasons at Charlton, turned into a nightmare.

But Thomas has moved on this season. And, not surprisingly, he knows exactly what Morrison is going through.

“I really sympathise, especially because his was a freak injury in the same way that mine was,” said Thomas, who has been impressive since completing a summer move from Fratton Park. There was nothing I could do about mine and I still don’t know how it happened.

“I just went in one day from training and my back was hurting and I learned I had two fractured bones.

“His is another freak occurrence. It was a blister that got infected and that was in pre-season and look how long he has been out for now and he is not even close to getting back.

“So I definitely feel for him but these things happen. It’s part and parcel of the game and of being a professional.

“You have injuries and he just has to keep his spirits high and he will be back.

“It’s the same with Ishmael Miller. He is looking good and doing work now and he will be a great addition when he is back.”

A long-term injury can certainly re-focus minds.

Neil Clement, himself battling back from a long-term knee injury, admits he had already given thought to life after playing when he suffered an initial problem several years ago to his opposite knee.

Thomas claims that ensuring he ate correctly and kept trim helped him during his recovery. A first-team return was always on the cards for the ex-Arsenal man.

“I can only speak for myself but it’s just a case of reminding yourself that things could always be worse,” he continued.

“There is nothing you can do about it when it happens and it’s just a case of being professional, eating right and resting right and getting all the treatment you need.

“You just have to be patient and time can go so quickly. He will be back before he knows it and I’m sure he will be back in the team.”