NAGGY BOBBY HELPED ME GET FIT
AFTER five years of marriage, Carlos Edwards knows it’s always best to listen to your better half.
And he extended that mantra to Millwall physio Bobby Bacic after he pushed Edwards to his limits in his recovery from knee ligament damage to earn a new deal at The Den this week.
Edwards was eight games into his permanent career with Millwall 11 months ago, following a short loan spell, when he suffered his injury seven minutes into an otherwise forgettable goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.
So complicated was the process of his operation, Edwards spent two nights in hospital and the next six weeks using a brace and crutches to hobble around.
During that time he celebrated his 36th birthday and could have been forgiven for deciding it was time to throw in the towel on his career.
Challenging
But, with the help of Bacic and all at Millwall, he has now come through the other side and – though there was a mass exodus at The Den during the summer – Edwards has penned a contract until January.
The Trinidad & Tobago full-back admits his relationship with Bacic was akin to a marriage, but he’s now glad that he was nagged.
“Early on it was difficult,” said Edwards. “The injury was fresh and it was a struggle to get back on my feet.
“It was challenging, but the help I had from Bob the physio and the rest of the staff was great. And the players too, just being in training, having a laugh again with the boys then seeing them working outside gave me the incentive to work hard. It was a team effort.
“It was like a marriage with Bob.You argue with your wife, but know she is always right and give in. It was like that with Bob, sometimes I didn’t want to do it, but he said I should and was right.
“Retirement never crossed my mind though. I’m 36, but they say age is just a number and for me it really is, because I feel good.
“At some point I’ll have to hang my boots up and maybe look at coaching, but for now I want to play football and I feel I still have something to offer to Millwall.”
Now Edwards has returned to full fitness, his next goal is to try and turn his six-month deal at Millwall into something more permanent and aid their quest to make an immediate return to the Championship.
Shaun Cummings has held the right-back berth in the opening weeks of the season and Edwards knows 86 international caps gives him no divine right to walk straight back into the team.
But, if he does get his chance, Edwards has vowed to try and repay the help he has been afforded at the south London club.
“The club could have turned its back on me, but they gave me the chance to continue and I don’t think I can repay them,” he added. “I hope my performances justify their faith in
me.”