Delap yet to fully recover

Midfielder determined to return to return to full fitness

By James Dall   Last updated: 8th September 2007

Delap Rory

Delap: Road to recovery

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Stoke midfielder Rory Delap has admitted that it will be some time before he returns to the top of his game.

The 31-year-old suffered a double break in October during the match against Sunderland, but has now returned to first-team action.

Delap explained that he is lacking sharpness, but is aware that this will return in time.

"The leg itself is fine but it stiffens up from time to time in the muscles where the bone went through," he said.

"So I still have to be a little bit careful with it.

"Since I have come back from the injury I have played a few games and I haven't felt great in all of them, but I understand I have to come through that a little bit to get my sharpness and match fitness back.

"Things are coming back slowly and steadily but there is still a bit of a way to go yet."