Charlie: I am determined to make up for lost time at Sky Blues
COVENTRY City signing Charlie Wakefield is set on getting his career back on track in League One after the trauma of serious illness and injury.
The former Chelsea Academy star, who has FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League medals to his name, saw his upward trajectory at the Premier League club stall after spending months on the sidelines, first with a chronic hamstring injury and then a potentially life-threatening lung problem.
But the winger – described by his former Stamford Bridge coach Adi Viveash (now assistant manager of the Sky Blues) as the fastest player he’s ever seen – is now looking forward to a bright future with Mark Robins’ side.
“I have had bad injuries in the past with my hamstring and lung, which is completely behind me now,” said the 20-year-old, reflecting on a mentally testing last two years.
“I had stem cell treatment on my hamstring and then the physio told me to have ten days off and rest at home following the treatment.
“They suggested going away if I wanted to, so I went away with my girlfriend on holiday for five days and then when I came back I was on my way to the training ground on my second day into my recovery and I just started getting chest pains on the motorway.
“It was a crazy experience. I ended up being rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung which they quickly sorted out. That kept me back for two months bed bound. But look, you have got to take it all in your stride. I have stayed really positive and you have to be mentally strong because sometimes it can break people if they have been out for a while. “I always say to myself that everything happens for a reason and I believe my time will come if I am patient enough, and then it’s up to me to take it, which I know I will.
“That all happened back in November 2017, so it has been a while since the injuries, which is good and they are all past me now.” He added: “I have missed a lot of football and even if you are training every day you can’t train match fitness. I need to be playing every week otherwise I am not going to be up to speed. Even now I am getting games but I am still not fully match fit. As soon as I play ten 90 minutes consecutively, week in and week out, then I will start to feel that I am back to full speed.”
Born in the seaside town of Worthing in Sussex, Wakefield started out at Brighton and Hove Albion before joining Chelsea’s Academy aged 12.
But his protracted injury and health issues meant he parted company with the Blues last month after a number of trials at London-based clubs including Charlton, QPR and Millwall.
Asked how his move to City came about, Wakefield revealed it was completely out of the blue.
“It was a last minute thing,” he said. “I was training at Millwall on deadline day and I got a call very late on to say Coventry wanted to sign me so I got straight on the motorway to get up here and make it happen.”
So was it an easy decision?
“Yes because I knew with Coventry that I’d be straight in training with the first team and looking to get my opportunity to break into that team, so it was a no-brainer,” he said.
“Also, I had worked with Adi Viveash before and I have got a great relationship with him. He knows how I play so when I put it all together it just made complete sense.
“He has developed me into a better player and he knows how direct I am and what he wants out of me. And because it is a first team opportunity, that’s what I needed, to show everyone what I’m all about.”
City fans are yet to see what Wakefield has to offer, having only seen a few glimpses from the bench in his first three senior games.
“I have got to be patient,” said the rapid wide man, who is using the Under-23s to get his match fitness to where it needs to be.
“My time will come. The boys are doing extremely well at the minute.
“I have come in and we have won two and drawn one which we potentially should have won.
“While the boys are doing well I am happy for them but I will be waiting to take my chance when it comes.
“I know I can play in front of a crowd for this massive club and do well, and I just can’t wait to show everyone what I can do.”
It was a crazy experience. I ended up being rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung which they sorted out. Charlie Wakefield