Spillane ready to bide time
Michael Spillane is eager to force his way back into the Norwich City first team reckoning - but equally determined not to take a gamble after a long-running fitness battle.
Michael Spillane is eager to force his way back into the Norwich City first team reckoning - but equally determined not to take a gamble after a long-running fitness battle.
The 20-year-old defender has missed 19 matches in all competitions since suffering a hamstring injury in the 5-1 victory over Bristol Rovers at Carrow Road more than three months ago.
The setback came at a cruel time for Spillane, who had featured in 11 of City's first 14 games of the season and, playing at right-back, had just scored a splendid first goal for the club in the 4-0 home win over Leyton Orient.
Now, after 14 frustrating weeks on the sidelines, working hard at his recovery, he is close to joining in full training but wants to be certain he is ready.
He said: "It's up to the physio and the gaffer but I want to get back in the first team squad pretty soon. I will probably need one or two reserve games but I want to be back as soon as possible.
"I have been doing everything, really - sprinting, kicking - and just need maybe another two weeks to make sure.
Most Read
- 1 Snow starts to fall in Norfolk - but will it last?
- 2 Hopes rekindled for new £20m railway station
- 3 'Please come home': Family's plea to help find missing Norwich girl
- 4 John Lewis boss bids farewell to Norwich store after nearly three decades
- 5 'We're over the moon': Family overjoyed as missing Norwich girl returns home
- 6 Patient dies while waiting in ambulance for hospital bed
- 7 Fire fears over huge battery storage plants for wind farm
- 8 Obituary: Owner of huge collection of vintage tractors dies aged 75
- 9 Flood alerts issued for parts of Norfolk due to stormy conditions
- 10 Warning for drivers as Met Office issues ice warning across Norfolk
"It was quite a bad injury. I knew that from the way it hurt when it went, but I'm the sort of person who thinks I'll be back in two weeks or three weeks. But it was worse than that and when I tried to come back I did it again. This time I've got to be really careful I don't snap it again."
