Preston midfielder Barry Nicholson is targeting making his long-awaited comeback within a month.
Forgotten midfielder hoping to play within a month
Preston North End's midfielder Barry Nicholson is targeting making his long-awaited comeback within a month.
The 32-year-old has missed almost 14 months of action after suffering a double leg fracture against Peterborough in August 2009.
Rather excruciatingly one of the fractures re-opened in his comeback at Reading on the final day of last season, meaning a fresh absence.
However, Nicholson has taken his time recovering at the second time of asking and now feels ready to make his long-awaited comeback.
The Scottish midfielder has been working on his fitness and believes he could be back playing football in three weeks' time.
Training
"I've been training with the boys for a few weeks now," Nicholson told the
Lancashire Evening Post.
"I was hoping to get the green light a little while ago to really step things up but the specialist and our physio thought waiting a bit longer would benefit me.
"At the time it wasn't the news I wanted to hear but, looking back, it was the right thing. The leg feels really good now and I'm building up my fitness.
"I had a chat with the gaffer the other day and we're looking towards me playing in the reserves on October 27.
"So I'm only three weeks away from playing again, which is brilliant.
"Most of the training I've done so far has been non-contact. The contact side of things has only started to be added in the last couple of weeks.
"I haven't been smashed in a tackle yet, I've taken my time, been careful, basically tried to do what the other boys are doing without putting myself in for silly challenges.
"This time it has felt a lot easier for me to get back to fitness.
"The first time I broke my leg the rehab work was really tough and I had a lot of problems with my calf muscle.
"But I was walking a lot quicker this time, running in the pool sooner, with the uneasiness and pain quickly going."
