Nine weeks on from surgery on his injured knee, we spoke with Charlie Winfield to see how our young full-back is progressing with his rehab.
The 19-year-old, only just back from a loan spell in Denmark with Esbjerg fB, damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training session at the end of December, and is working hard in the gym on the road to recovery.
“It’s feeling better, compared to what it was at the start after my surgery,” he said. “But it’s feeling good at the minute.
“I’ve been progressing quite well – doing squats, adding weight. The same with the leg press. I’ve made a lot of progress; I couldn’t walk without my crutches, even lift my leg up without someone helping me, so I’ve come on quite well.
“Hopefully in one or two more months I can move onto the AlterG and then back out on the grass.
“It’d be massive because that’s the first stage to getting back fit because, you do all the stuff in the gym, with the physios and working with Nichola, but when you’re back on the grass, it really makes you feel like you’re making progress.”
With Martin Devaney and Tom Harban currently in the first team set-up, Winfield is hoping that he can hit the ground running once he is given the all clear to play competitively once more.
He has built solid relationships with the coaching staff since coming through the ranks, having joined the Reds almost a decade ago, and is aiming to be involved in the senior set-up next season, citing the club’s willingness to give youth a chance as his inspiration.
“I know them both well and they put a lot of trust and confidence into me playing for the under 18s and under 23s so, hopefully when I get back, if they’re in charge, I can impress them and hopefully develop further,” continued Winfield.
“It’s not just this season, you’ve seen it throughout the seasons with Jacob Brown and Ben Williams; there’s always opportunities at this club, I believe.
“When I think long-term, yeah, I’m injured now, that’s something I’ve got to work towards and keep me motivated.”
