Since my last blog I have been involved with the first team and reserves a lot more.
I’m now training most days of the week with Curtis Fleming who is the Development Squad coach. I am really happy to be involved on a daily basis with him and the squad because only a few months ago I wasn’t even sure when I would be back training, let alone playing for the Development Squad.
There are plenty of negatives that find their way into your mindframe so it’s about remaining as positive as possible because while you’re injured there is not a lot else you can do.
You have to focus on what you can effect and not think about peripheral matters that you have no influence over. You could say that my rehabilitation was done and dusted when I found myself named on the substitute’s bench for the first-team recently.
I was selected for Dougie Freedman’s squad for the first-team games away at Derby County in the FA Cup and in our league fixture away at Blackpool. I made the bench for the first but unfortunately didn’t make the final 16 for the seaside trip.
However both trips were real eye openers for me. You can’t replicate or compare being around the senior professionals on match-day and the whole buzz that it gives you being involved because it is totally different to anything else.
Now I’ve tasted it again, I really want to push on and have more and more of these experiences.
In my last blog before Christmas I wrote about our preparation for an FA Youth Cup tie with Everton. I’d love to say that we came through that game with a win but it wasn’t to be.
We were beaten by a very good and disciplined team who were fortunate enough to be able to include the likes of Ross Barkley in their side. He’s a very good player as I’m sure you can all imagine – I mean you don’t get linked with £15 million moves if you’re not! Despite his presence in the Everton line-up we didn’t make it easy for them.
We got out infront with a 1-0 lead but we just couldn’t hang on as they equalised and took their momentum through into extra-time when they scored a late winner just when penalties had started to started to creep into everyone’s mind
That said we’ve been able to take plenty of positives from the game and the lads came out of the tie with great credit.
Finally, I know I talk about this guy in every blog but I’d just like to give a special mention to Jonny Williams. We’ve been at the club together since we were nine years-old and he has been through a tough spell recently after suffering a really bad injury but now he’s back jogging and doing light ball-work so I’m absolutely made up for him.
I’m sure his return will be a major plus for the first-team as the season progresses because he really is a top player in the making.
