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Chris Almond : 'I cannot wait to be back at FC'

Last time we caught up with you in the summer of 2020 you were due to have your operation in March, then due to the pandemic it got cancelled at short notice?

 

Yeah I’d had the pre-op and then got a phone call a day or two before the actual operation to say it was cancelled due to Covid, I’d been waiting 7 months to get it so I had to just keep the muscles working and keeping fit ready for the op, working with Liv (Olivia Smith FC Physio) just doing lunges and squats to keep the knee area in decent shape, the quads and calves, then gentle jogs. The stronger you are the quicker the rehab.

 

So when did you finally get the operation?

 

I had it on the 15th Jan this year, so it’s been 18 months since I did the injury. It went well so I’m now focussed on the rehab and getting back to full fitness, but I’m a way off, I’ve been working closely with the physio at Chorley Hospital, going twice every week doing hydrotherapy in the pool and physio sessions, then doing the work at home. It’s all going in the right direction but it’s frustrating at times because of the timescales involved. I’m now nearly at the point that I’m going to be starting to introducing plyomatics type movements into the rehab which is good, more hopping and jumping on and off steps, it’s a slow process but it’s got to be done to build up the knee.

 

So what was the actual operation?

 

It was a graft of part of my hamstring, reconstructing the ACL after drilling two holes to attach it to. It feels good and steady, it’s hard to say where I am though as I can’t do any twists yet, everything is going to be in straight lines. By mid-june I can start doing more sports specific stuff but it feels more sturdy than before the op, it’s hard to describe but my lower leg felt a bit loose beforehand and now it doesn't!

 

It must be so frustrating, but ironically you’ve not missed much football...

It’s been a hard hard 18 months, I love playing football and knowing that I had the chance to play for FC at Broadhurst Park has been so frustrating, I don’t think that the last two seasons have been voided, have not made it any easier really. I’ve missed the dressing room banter with the lads and just want to get back in amongst all that, I keep up with WhatsApps but, getting back to training with the lads after working for so long on my own will give me that bit more of a kick. I talk to Brian Richardson frequently and he said that the two years out might actually do me good in terms of being able to play a bit longer than I ought have without the break. I look after myself, haven’t put any weight on and my metabolism is good – plus not being able to go for a pint has helped ha ha!

So you’re looking forward to the new season?

I can’t wait, to be back at FC is something I’ve been looking forward to so much, I want to be part of it as we push for promotion, and the team is in better shape than when I was there as the lads all know each other so well now, so we’ve got a good chance – we just have to do the best we can.


First Posted ~ 05:54 Tue 11 May 2021
News ID ~ 9023
Last Updated ~ 07:17 Tue 11 May 2021