Beesley’s ready for Dale’s battle
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BACK in the side and raring to go, Rochdale striker Jake Beesley is eagerly looking forward to the end-of-season run-in.
The frontman suffered a metatarsal injury away at Doncaster Rovers in January which kept him sidelined until last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Peterborough, when he returned to the starting line-up with a goal in what was an impressive performance.
International call-ups means Dale are without a game this weekend and next take to the field on Good Friday when they take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
With 10 games to be played between now and the end of the season, Dale have a busy end to the campaign as they fight to save their League One status.
Currently bottom of the table but only two points adrift of safety, Dale’s runin includes eight games in April – and Beesley is relishing the challenge.
And while he’s champing at the bit to play, Beesley believes this weekend’s rest will allow the likes of Ryan Mclaughlin, Stephen Humphrys and Jimmy Ryan to edge closer to fitness.
“We would have had games coming thick and fast if it wasn’t for the international break but it gives us time to train hard, get fitter and work on stuff on the training ground,” he said. “We’ve got important players out injured, so not having games will help them get closer to coming back so it could benefit us.
“As a player, I love playing games so when they come Saturday, Tuesday, I love getting in that routine of playing, recovering and then playing again, and I’m sure a lot of lads are the same as that.
“If we play like we did against Peterborough and like the lads have done over the last few weeks, then I’m sure we’ll have a great run in.”
Beesley will be hoping to end the season on a high by helping Dale retain their place in the division – and on a personal note he’s keen to put the frustration of injury and a spell on the sidelines behind him.
“It has been a bit frustrating this year for me with injuries,” said Beesley.
“I had the concussion [after sustaining a head injury away at Plymouth at the start of December] and it kept me out for three weeks, but I came back and started to get going again and scored against Wigan.
“Then at Doncaster I ended up breaking my foot, so it has been frustrating but I’ve just been trying to work hard with the medical staff, the physio and Ben [Ekins] and Gibbo [Kevin Gibbins] to get back fit and ready.
“There’s no good in letting an injury get you down - it’s not going to help you in any way. You just need to focus on your rehab, do it as best as you can and try to get back in as little time as possible, which I have tried to do.”
Beesley played the full game against Posh having been called straight back into the starting eleven when Mclaughlin picked up a slight niggle in training on Friday.
Trailing 2-0 at the interval, the 24-year-old went on to score an 87th minute equaliser to bring Dale back on level terms at 2-2.
‘We’ve got important players out so the break will help them get closer to coming back’
Jimmy Keohane then scored what appeared to be the winner – until a 93rd minute penalty gave Peterborough a share of the spoils.
“On the Friday Becks [Mclaughlin] had picked up a little knock,” recalled Beesley.
“I wasn’t expecting to start the game but then I thought I might have a little chance when he was struggling so I just tried to get into my head that I’d give my all for as long as I could and see where I’d go from there.
“I actually felt better in the second half than I did in the first half. I grew into the game and got my second wind a bit so I was glad to get through it.
“It’s always nice to score a goal. The ball broke to Matt Done who had a great touch and put a great ball in. He’s hung it up lovely and I’ve just had to try and leap up at the defender and try to get it on target. Thankfully it managed to creep in.”
Beesley said the players have taken a lot of confidence from recent performances and results.
“It was a good game of football and, in the end, we were disappointed not to win it but at half-time I think we would have taken a point.
“We played well in the second half and we got ourselves right back into it and went ahead.
“It was obviously disappointing to concede the equaliser but because of how we played, the boys feel confident that we can kick on from here and go on a good run.”