WALTERS VOWS TO RETURN DESPITE INJURY
JON Walters has pledged to return to full fitness as soon as possible after a ruptured Achilles ended his loan spell at Ipswich.
The 35-year-old Republic of Ireland striker, who was on loan at Portman Road from Burnley until January, has been ruled out for up to six months and has returned to Turf Moor to receive treatment.
Walters said: “While I’m really disappointed, there are a lot of people worse off than me.
“I’ll work hard and get back to fitness as soon as I can. I’ve enjoyed being back here and want to wish the club all the best for the rest of the season.”
Boss Paul Hurst said: “I’m disappointed for Jon because of how hard he’d worked to get back fit.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Dean Gerken is confident he is finally over his own injury nightmare.
Gerken, 33, is Town’s current number one after recovering from a hip problem that had dogged him for a number of years.
Speaking about the injury, Gerken said: “I’ve had the surgery now and it was a massive operation. I’ve done the Saturday/Tuesday now which was big for me and it’s the best I’ve felt in five years.
“My hip was clicking and locking for five years, but not often. Then on the fifth year, it would be locking very regularly. The surgeon pulled out about six bits of bone that were about the size of a tooth.”
On his return to the starting line-up, Gerken added: “I knew if I got my chance, the gaffer would give me the chance to keep the jersey.
“I got told the day before the Norwich game I might be playing. I felt brilliant going into it.
“I’ve felt comfortable playing behind the back four. It was a big psychological thing to get a clean sheet last Saturday. Hopefully they can be like London buses and keep coming and coming now.”