There is light at the end of the tunnel. My recovery from posterior ligament damage has progressed well and I am looking to be back in full training by August.

It means I will miss the gruelling pre-season but will have to catch up at some point, which is bound to be pretty painful. Nevertheless, at one point I was advised that I might be out for a lot longer. So I am filled with relief, hope and now I have something to aim for, rather than wondering if I would ever get back into action again.

No matter how much reassurance you get from specialists, physios, teammates, girlfriends and mates there is always at the back of your mind the thought of your career ending for good.  I won’t say I have woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat but when it has been difficult that thought in the back of your mind does its’ best to push its’ way to the front of your mind.

So to say it’s been a tough time is an understatement.

Apart from being excluded from all the stuff that comes with being part of the team and training everyday, I have had to turn-up everyday post-season to a deserted club and training ground see our physio for treatment.  I could almost see the Tumbleweed blowing through.

I’m now free of that for a month and I am technically on a holiday, a holiday that I don’t need. But in some ways it is still a break from the routine of physio everyday. Coming back from an injury is about routine too, just like playing. I will not stop going to the gym for the month as I enjoy it too much and I want to stay in reasonable shape for when I do start full training again. I’ll have a week away somewhere in the sun too, but I will be counting the days before I can get back out there.

I will also have some speed training.  Some people in football believe you lose a yard of pace after a cruciate or posterior ligament injury.  I’m not taking any risks so my agent has lined me up with a speed coach, called Andrew Steele.  He’s a 400m runner for Team GB.  He raced in the Beijing Olympics and also coached Manchester City’s Nedum Onuoha, who they reckon is the fastest player in the Premier League.  If I could be as quick as him I wouldn’t have too many problems.  Andrew has also worked with the younger lads at Manchester United.

To be honest even without the injury I would have taken Andrew’s advice as I am always looking to improve my game in every shape and form. I don’t have much time left. I only turned full-time pro last Summer. Even before I became injured I spent most of the time on the Dagenham and Redbridge bench.  No complaints about that as our two lads up front were great all season, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t frustrated about the situation. Every footballer wants to play football.

I’m 26 now, turning 27 in the New Year and I want to make my mark on professional football, not just be satisfied with the fact that I finally made it to here. I’ve still a hell of a lot to offer and I know I can only improve as a player. I won’t describe next season as a turning point, more a new start.