Emotions are running high for Coughlin as he prepares to return
PAUL Coughlin has admitted it will be an emotional experience when he returns to the field for the first time as a Durham player after re-signing for the county in the off-season.
The 28-year-old left Emirates Riverside at the end of the 2017 campaign to join Nottinghamshire.
However, a slew of injuries limited the all-rounder to only a handful of appearances in his two seasons at the club.
A desire to return to the North East resulted in Notts allowing Coughlin to secure a move back to Durham.
Although his comeback has been halted once more by the delayed start to the campaign, Coughlin is eager to re-ignite his career in familiar surroundings.
He said:“it will emotional when I get back out there in a Durham shirt.
“I told coach Alan Walker the other day and have said to others during pre-season it would be emotional.
“I pulled my first-class cap out of the draw and it was a very sentimental moment.
“I cannot wait to get it back on. It has been stalled again but when it does come around it will be emotional and I am looking forward to it.”
Coughlin added: “It has been frustrating over the last two years.
“I only played four matches at the end of last year, which is pretty much the only cricket I have played since I left Durham.
“I was still under contract at Nottinghamshire so I had to try to work out an agreement to leave.
“They did not want me to leave but it was more due to family and personal reasons.
“When I left Durham initially, Notts was the only other place I would want to play cricket but it did not quite work out.”
He went on: “It has been frustrating that we have not been able to start on time this year.
“It is almost like a restart and it is a different direction I am going in now in my career. I am back and raring to get started again.”
Since Coughlin last took to the field as a Durham player notable changes have occurred in the backroom staff.
Marcus North and James Franklin have replaced Geoff Cook and Jon Lewis in the senior management roles at the club.
Coughlin revealed he has held discussions with both men about his role in the team.
He is optimistic the strength in depth Durham boast across the board will help them compete in all three formats when the truncated season gets underway on August 1.
He added: “To have the opportunity to come back to Durham – I was over the moon Northy and Franky would allow me to return.
“It is a different set-up from when I was last here.
“My role in the team moving forward is something we did discuss.
“In the past I have been seen as a bowling all-rounder.
“We have quite a bit of strength there with Brydon Carse, and he’s obviously around the England team at the moment, and Ben Raine.
“There is plenty of competition for that place and that is good for us and the team.
“I don’t think we are necessarily focused on the one-day competitions.
“We have a lot of depth in the squad so we can push forward in all formats.
“We have a lot of strength in our team to take on all competitions so I don’t think we will be prioritising one competition more than the others.”
All 18 first-class counties have agreed to play a regionalised red-ball competition, named the Bob Willis Trophy in honour of the late fast bowler, and the Vitality Blast T20 this summer.