Gabbidon still in the dark

Hammers defender yet to recover from abdominal problem

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 8th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gabbidon still in the dark

Gabbidon: Waiting game

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Daniel Gabbidon admits he has no idea when his ongoing injury nightmare will come to an end.

The West Ham centre-half has spent the last 10 months on the sidelines nursing a mysterious abdominal problem.

However, with the injury finally showing signs of abating, the Wales international hopes to bring the frustrating episode to end in the near future.

He accepts that questions will be raised over his ability to reproduce his best form after such a long spell out of action, but he remains confident in his ability to perform at the highest level.

Challenge

"I am taking it day by day, week by week. Obviously I won't be happy until I am back playing but I am pleased with how things are going for me," Gabbidon told the West Ham official programme..

"But I am not giving any specific targets as to when I will be back.

"It has been tough and I still have a bit to go, but I am certainly 100 per cent confident of getting back sooner rather than later.

"I am not that far away and the work I am doing has stepped up to where I can do some running now.

"So it's nice for me to have new challenges like this and see the progress being made."

Forgotten

Gabbidon has seen Gianfranco Zola step into the managerial breach at West Ham since suffering his prolonged problem, making his spell on the treatment table all the more infuriating.

Despite being unable to show the Italian coach what he is capable of the defender has seen his spirits lifted by some encouraging words from the Hammers' new coaching regime.

"The boss and Steve (Clarke) have both talked to me and know what is going on and where I'm at," he added.

"It's good they haven't forgotten about me, they have said I have to continue to be patient.

"It's good to know what they think, as when you have been out injured a long time and a new manager comes in, he has other things to concentrate on, like the players who are fit to play every week.

"But we have had a chat and it has made me feel confident and want to work even harder so I can get back and prove myself to him."

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