Arguably our most consistent and impressive performer before picking up a cruel injury vs Shildon back in August, Jack Daley finally returned to the matchday squad last weekend against Whickham.
We caught up with him to hear how the last couple months on the sideline have been......
Jack, brilliant to have you back in the squad, how have the last couple of months been?
Last couple months have been probably the toughest months of my life, having never really been injured before it was hard to take at first but my family and friends, and most of all my teammates and support from the club, has got me through it.
Before that broken foot you were absolutely smashing it in the heart of our defence, just how frustrating was it to pick up an injury when you were performing so well?
Thats probably what got to me the most having played well and starting most games you just don’t know what the next months will hold for you, you get doubts are you going to be the same player as you were, is your foot going hold up, its a long and tough process for sure.
Talk me through the last 8 weeks - what have you been up to, how was rehab, and how did it feel watching the lads from the sideline?
So obviously I had a moon boot on and all I could really do was go to the gym, do some swimming, watch the lads train and play. Don’t get me wrong I do like watching football, but when you know you could be part of the games instead of watching on from the stands or the dugouts.....frustrating.
I mean good job I had Connor Oliver as we went round the grounds rating the Bovril’s which kept me entertained, and also Scotty for the countless bags of sweets handed out in the dugout. Rehab was a tough process as when I first came back and did some running with Scotty and I felt a bit of pain and I didn’t know how long it would set me back, but then I started working with Max Emmerson doing some gym work getting rehab exercises which would help gain the strength back in my legs and foot. I genuinely cant thank Scotty and Max enough. 2 absolute legends!
Now you are back fit and in contention, what are your aims for the rest of the campaign personally?
My goals for the remaining part of the campaign are just to start as many games as possible as I am still young, the best thing for me is to just be playing as much as I can. It would be a dream to obviously get through the Senior Cup and play at St. James Park, and maybe pop up with a few headers here and there.
Following a dramatic late win vs Whickham we find ourselves 6th in the league, and right amongst it. How’s the mood within the squad about we’ve started this season?
Yeah I mean we got off to a good start apart from obviously the first game against Marske, but we got through 2 FA Cup rounds but there was a bit of inconsistency with results and performances. Then in the past few weeks we have only had two losses in ten games so we started flying up the table, but the loss to Tow Law and Redcar set us back a little, with the games in hand we should be back in the playoffs which is obviously where we want too be.
The mood has been the best it has all season in my opinion, obviously a few players coming back from injury, and we are competing against each other for positions but we have a really close bond together and have a great team spirit on and off the pitch and we have a desire to get better and better each week.
Despite all the injuries we’ve had in defence this year, our goals against record is still very impressive - that’s going to be important come the end of the season isn’t it?
Yeah that will be vital to our position in the league come the end of the season, when you look at it we have a pretty young defence so its even more impressive and hopefully we can keep that up until the end of the season and hopefully it pays off.
Last question.....were you allowed to play the ‘injured’ card at College and have a couple days off, or were you wheeled straight back in the following day?
No unfortunately not, the boss aka my Mam wouldn’t let me stay off college and I was back in the day after I broke my foot. Seeing the lads and Nashy was genuinely quite tough because I had to hobble about in my moon boot and everyone asking me what I had done and things, and it was still raw and obviously it was hard for me as it was basically my first ever injury. And I missed so many vital games playing for college as well including the Youth Cup run we are on at the moment.
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