Fenton on the road to recovery
When pus started oozing out of Louis Fenton’s foot, he knew something wasn’t right.
The Wellington Phoenix defender was told he would be sidelined for up to 12 weeks, when he suffered a season-ending compound fracture in a foot against Newcastle Jets in March.
However, it has taken 20 weeks for Fenton to finally receive the green light to resume light training due to multiple complications.
‘‘My bones came through my foot and I had a compound fracture. I got a metal plate in and then that got infected,’’ Fenton said.
‘‘The plan was to take the screws out in 12 weeks but then after that the infection was still in my bones.
‘‘I had two more operations after that. Then there wasn’t enough skin to stitch up so I had to let it heal naturally and that’s why the process has sort of dragged on.’’
Although he is able to participate in running drills, Fenton is yet to kick a ball and will not be involved when the Phoenix play a Miramar Rangers/Wellington Olympic selection in their next pre-season match on Sunday.
He will also not be available when they play a Central League selection seven days later. Realistically, he is targeting round one of the 2019-20 A-League season for his comeback.
‘‘It’s good to be back on the field with the boys. It’s a pretty lonely place being injured. You’re in the gym by yourself with the physio,’’ he said.
‘‘At the moment it’s just about getting through the training and hopefully I’ll be kicking the ball and tackling in the next few weeks.
‘‘In terms of a timeline I’m just taking it day by day.’’
Fenton has endured an injury-plagued career thus far — there have been two shoulder dislocations, a troublesome groin that kept him out for 11 months as well as a broken leg — so he was bracing for the worst when the doctor revealed the extent of his foot problems.
‘‘I was probably sick for about three or four weeks and then pus started weeping out of my foot, so that sort of gave it away.
‘‘When I first did it and I was told it was just a couple of broken bones in my foot so I thought there was a chance [I’d be back for the playoffs], but after speaking to the surgeon he said I’d be lucky to make 12 weeks. That’s sort of when the hope went away.
‘‘Mentally it’s probably the toughest.
When I wasn’t playing in the game against Victory in the finals series it was pretty tough. But I’m lucky that the boys have been good to me and being around the team even off the field helps.’’
But if there is any silver lining it is that the A-League off-season is incredibly long, which means Fenton should be back to face Western United on October 13.