Having stayed injury free for the majority of last season the new term has started in the worst possible way for Andy Melville as he will miss this week’s games in Austria due to an injury sustained in training.
Following a well earned summer break the Welshman picked up the injury – a strain to a tendon running along the sole of his left foot at the team’s first training camp in Devon.
The squad spent the best part of a week at the seaside base – owned by former Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell – before the opening clash of 2003/04 against Torquay.
However, it was during one of these training sessions that the Wales international unknowingly picked up the sprain which has ruled him out of the first few friendlies.
Speaking at Motspur Park on Monday the defender was in buoyant mood despite the set back. “It appeared out of nowhere really, but I’ve just got to be patient. It is improving very slowly” he said. “It’s difficult to say how long it will mean I’m out for, I’ve just got to monitor it every day. Every time I put pressure on my foot there’s a lot of pain, it should be a couple of weeks before I can get back into it I think. It’s weird because it just cropped up, I didn’t receive a kick or anything. These things just happen sometimes.”
On Monday morning the First Team travelled to Austria ahead of the games against ASK Voitsberg and AS Roma later this week. Melv travelled with the squad despite his injury and hopes to be back in full training once the team return. “I’m travelling with the rest of the squad so I can have the physio team on hand so that I can get two or three treatments a day” he said.
“I don’t think I’m going to be fit enough to take part in the games in Austria but, by the time we come back, I should be able to take part with the rest of the squad and finally get my season going properly.”
Although a spectator for last week’s clash with Celtic, Melv was pleased with the way the team played. “Celtic were a little bit fitter than us I think but nevertheless there were a lot of good performances out there, especially in the second half. We could have easily scored a couple of goals.
“I think we can take a lot of positives from the game. Players like Steed, Lee Clark, Barry Hayles and the young lads who came in all made an impression and I think Cookie’s going to have a few selection headaches by the time the season kicks off properly.”
