Duo delighted with return to action
There were smiles all round yesterday as Andy Whing and Ryan Clarke came through their first games back after summer operations. Clarke played his first 90 minutes after an operation on a long-term foot injury while Whing played a full hour in midfield against Southend following summer surgery to correct a long term groin problem.
“It was good to come through it and it feels great” Ryan told Yellow Player. “The surgeon did a great job and I owe big thanks to physio Andrew Proctor for getting me into shape again and then Wayne Brown for helping get me sharp on the goalkeeping side of things. I have been itching to play: I wanted to play a couple of weeks ago but they rightly put the reins on me because I wasn’t ready.
“It has been hard and I know this is just the start of more hard work for me. I am just looking to kick on from this game and give the manager an option really.”
Whing was equally happy to play his part in an excellent team performance as United beat Southend United 2-1.
“No reaction at all” he told us. “It felt probably the best I’ve felt for a number of years. Fingers crossed it stays that way now and I can get back playing again. There was a decent early challenge and I think I needed that to get me going. I did the right things after the game, warmed down properly and I will do what the physio tells me to do, but it was good to be back.”
’Whingy’ was typically quick to give the credit to the players around him in yesterday's game, decided by goals from Sam Long and Josh Shama.
“I can’t believe it was only 2-1” he said. “It was probably one of the best 45 minutes I’ve played in. The young lads were brilliant attacking wise and I really enjoyed it. The movement and pace, especially in the first half was great, but I thought the experienced pros like David Hunt and Jon Meades set the tone and had a great attitude as well.”
See a double interview that’s sure to raise a smile, plus the goals from the game in Yellow Player right now.