Phil SumblerFor a player when they come back from an injury lay off then you can often sense their relief that a period of hard work and recuperation is over and they are back doing what they want to do and that is play football.
But when that absence has been close to two years as it had been for Jordi Govea when he came off the bench for the Under-23’s against Millwall then you know the relief can be overcoming.
And, as head of academy Jon Grey said, Govea was in tears at the end of the game after a perfect comeback saw him not just take his place on the pitch but he scored within nine minutes of getting onto the pitch to help the team to a 2-0 win in their league encounter.
Govea’s team-mates were quick to run to celebrate with the player but he was heading for the bench and an embrace with head physiotherapist Bethany Chaddock who had done so much work to help him with his comeback from a series of injuries that had sidelined him since April 2019.
“It was really pleasing; we’re all delighted for him,” said Grey.
“He’s a cracking lad and really has been through the mill with injuries; he’s been so unlucky.
“He was in tears at the end after coming back and getting some minutes under his belt.
“We’ve got to be careful with him after being out for so long.
“Although he’s a defender, we introduced him on the left wing for a bit of protection and to ease him back in. But Jordi being Jordi, he wanted to run forward and follow the rebound in from Dan’s shot.
“All the players chased him to the corner flag and went to jump on him, but he pushed them all off and ran straight to Beth and gave her a big hug.
“You’ve got to give Beth and the other physios lots of credit; they’ve worked their socks off with him.
“To get him back on the pitch and doing what he loves doing, it was a really proud moment for everyone involved.”
