Cardiff Met goalkeeper Will Fuller has pencilled himself in for a return to first-team in the New Year, having not yet kicked a ball this season.
The 25-year-old stopper has been sidelined since last season’s play-off final when a scan a routine hip injury was revealed to be worse than expected.
” I tore my quad away from the hip playing at Connah’s Quay in March, originally it was treated as a regular tear so I did six weeks of rehab in the build up to the playoff semi-final but it went again within ten minutes of that Barry game,” he said.
“I played through that and the play-off final then an MRI showed it had come away from the bone and the tendon was hanging on by a thread.
“I was really lucky to have a great doctor in Mark Ridgewell and Chris Wilson doing my surgery and since then the NHS physio treatment and work with Adam Rattenbury from Sport Wales has been top class, I owe them all a lot.”
Fuller, who has made over 200 appearances for the Met, was finally given the green light to resume training this week.
“It’s been frustrating but as soon as the diagnosis was that I needed surgery I was fully focused on getting as fit as possible before the op and then just following the process post op,” said Fuller, who has seen young understudy Alex Lang grow in confidence and experience during the campaign.
“Alex has come in and done really well. To come in at 18 and be thrown straight in he’s done so well, as have Esa Aalto and Max Manson when they were called upon.
“We’ve got a great group of keepers at the club and with Taff (Anthony Williams) working with us in training and games the groups going to get stronger. The competition for places is high and I know when I’m fit I’ll have to wait for an opportunity for game time but I’ll be knocking the door and asking for under 19’s and reserve team minutes until a chance comes along.
“I couldn’t control not playing but I could control my gym work, diet and recovery so I’ve just focussed on all of that. As I’ve become more and more mobile I’m definitely getting twitchy and wanting to play but I know I need to follow the physio guidelines and come back when I’m ready.
“I’d like to think I’m not far off fitness. I need to build back into properly striking the ball again but I’m aiming to get games in the early part of January.”
Fuller has watched a frustrating season unfold from the sidelines, with the side struggling to force their way into the top-six with time running out.
The Students, currently sitting eighth in the Welsh Premier League, have six games remaining in which to close a seven-point gap or face missing out on a top-half finish for the first time since gaining promotion to the top-flight three seasons ago.
Despite reaching the Nathaniel MG Cup final last month, Cardiff Met are winless in their last six league matches going into their clash with Llanelli, in what should be a busy night of Welsh Premier League football with five fixtures being played.
“We’ve definitely underperformed in the league so far, we’d be the first to acknowledge that as a group but it also shows how far we’ve come in two seasons that being in the bottom six is underachieving. Making the final of the league cup is great for the club but our league form needs to improve if we’re going to look back on this season as being a success,” said Fuller.
Just three points separate the league’s top-three clubs, who’re all on the road tonight.
Connah’s Quay, top with a one-point lead visit Cefn Druids, whilst second-placed Barry Town United travel to Carmarthen. The New Saints, third, go to Bala Town and will climb the table should either of the above drop points.
“Hopefully we can go on a good run of form but talk is cheap and the players have got to get out there and make sure we’re in a healthy position come the split,” said Saints manager Scott Ruscoe, who confirmed full-back Chris Marriot has resumed training this week after an injury lay-off.
Aberystwyth are unbeaten in seven matches ahead of the visit of top-six contenders Caernarfon to Park Avenue. On Saturday night, Newtown face bottom side Llandudno in front of the live television cameras.
| 1 | Connah’s Quay Nomads | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 14 | 24 | 33 |
| 2 | Barry Town United FC | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 32 |
| 3 | The New Saints | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 11 | 28 | 30 |
| 4 | Bala Town | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 27 |
| 5 | Aberystwyth Town | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 25 | -2 | 27 |
| 6 | Newtown | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 25 |
| 7 | Caernarfon Town | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 18 | -1 | 23 |
| 8 | Cardiff Met | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 23 | -3 | 18 |
| 9 | Cefn Druids | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 22 | -2 | 17 |
| 10 | Carmarthen Town AFC | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 16 |
| 11 | Llanelli Town AFC | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 17 | 50 | -33 | 11 |
| 12 | Llandudno FC | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 29 | -18 | 9 |