BREAK-ING BAD TIMING FOR ADAM
ADAM FORSHAW admits the international break has come at the worst possible time as the Leeds star looks to re-establish himself after more than two years of injury hell.
At the start of United’s promotionwinning 2019-20 campaign, the former Middlesbrough midfielder was struck down by a serious hip injury which required numerous surgeries.
He missed all of Leeds’ Premier League return last term and there were doubts about whether the popular Liverpudlian would play again.
But even during his darkest days Forshaw, 30, never stopped believing he could make a comeback.
During last Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Leicester, the Everton academy product made his first league start since September 2019 and proved that he still has all the qualities required to play for Marcelo Bielsa.
Forshaw, who was withdrawn in the 90th minute to a standing ovation after a superb display, said of his two-year injury nightmare: “It’s been horrific.
“It started off with what I thought was just a muscle injury and we tried and tried everything for four or five months.
“Unfortunately I had to go for a number of surgeries but I just kept plugging away and rehabbing.
“Eventually I got there but the physios and staff helped me to give everything to get back on the pitch. I’ve been symptom-free for a long time and felt really good out there against Leicester.
“I wish there was a game this week because I just want to go on a roll now and get a bit of rhythm back.
“For me personally, the international break has come at a bad time.
“But I’d like to say a massive thank you to head of medicine and performance Rob Price and his team, the strength and conditioning coaches, the manager for the way he’s managed me throughout the summer, my family, my wife for putting up with me and keeping me busy on days when it was tough. I’m thankful to everybody.”
Bielsa reserved special praise for Forshaw after the Leicester game, saying: “I had doubts about whether he could achieve what he has just achieved because he spent two years without playing. But he never gave up.”
With Luke Ayling, Robin Koch and Patrick Bamford all set to return from injury shortly, Forshaw added: “I think we’re on the right track.
“The way we played against Leicester and in the previous home game against Wolves, we were at a good intensity.
“We’ve got some injuries at the moment but we have some big players and big characters to come back in.”