Ingimarsson eyes return

Royals defender hoping to play before the end of the season

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 5th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ingimarsson eyes return

Ingimarsson: Wants to return

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Reading defender Ivar Ingimarsson still harbours hopes of playing before the end of the season after recently undergoing knee surgery.

The former Brentford and Wolves man had an operation to clear up cartilage in his left knee after experiencing pain in the area for up to a year and is expected to be out for a couple of months.

The earliest the 31-year-old could hope to be fit for would be early April but with the Championship season drawing to a close on 3rd May the defender can't afford to suffer any complications if he wishes to play again this term.

At present, the Icelander is waiting for the swelling around his knee to go down but is hoping to get a good prognosis when he has a check-up with the doctor in a few weeks' time.

"There was a problem with the cartilage, I don't know exactly how long I will be out, but it is definitely going to be some weeks," he told the Evening Post.

Hopeful

"I'm not in plaster, but I have strapping round my knee as I still need a range of movement in my knee.

"I will have to be on crutches for a few weeks until the swelling goes down and then I will go back and have it reviewed by the doctor and we'll take it from there.

"Who knows, my next game for Reading might be in the Premier League. It will be great if we do go up, but I want to play before then.

"I do want to play this season, but I don't want to put time on it and the truth is I just don't know when I'll be back."

Royals boss Steve Coppell is a little more pessimistic over a quick return after declaring that they won't be rushing the centre-half back.

"It is doubtful he will play this season to be honest, but we have to make sure we go at the right pace," he explained.

"With all our injuries we have learned that if you rush people back quickly you sometimes end up paying with a longer period of rehabilitation.

"We are confident he will make a full recovery, but it has to be at his pace."