Player Interview: Scott Pollock

IT IS FAIR TO SAY THIS SEASON HAS NOT GONE TO PLAN FOR MIDFIELDER SCOTT POLLOCK.

Aproduct of the club’s Football & Education programme and academy infrastructure, Pollock made eighteen first team appearances last season, scoring his first senior goal in the process, and looked destined to play a big part this season.

But a troublesome groin injury, something he first felt in the summer, means he has not yet been available for selection this season. That situation could be changing in the coming weeks however, as he is now making excellent progress in his rehabilitation.

We caught up with him last week to see how things are progressing.

“It has been a nightmare,” he admitted. “I went to see specialists in London when it first happened but they weren't really able to diagnose what the problem was, until we found out in October.

“Back in June I felt a problem in my groin area. The MRI scans didn't pick anything up but I knew it wasn't right and when I went back in October, the MRI scans at that point showed that I had torn a tendon in my groin. "There was a problem around the bone. I had surgery and was told it would be around 8 to 12 weeks before I would be back. It has taken a bit longer but I am finally out on the training pitch and it feels really good to be back.”

Pollock said the injury has been particularly frustrating, as he felt good having broken back in to the team before football was suspended a year ago. "I had a good run in the side during February and March 2020 and was really pleased and then Covid hit and football stopped,” he reflected. "It was great to be in and around the squad for the play offs. Things were really good with the promotion and I was looking forward to the new season but then injury hit before the start of pre-season.”

With a number of new players arriving last summer, Pollock admitted not being out with the group for pre-season was difficult. "That made it tough to get to know the new players,” he said. “When you are not training day in, day out you might only see the rest of the squad in passing and it is hard to build up a relationship with the new signings. "I have had a lot of long days, plenty of long hours doing rehab in the gym, but it is good to be back out on the training pitch, getting to know the new faces a bit more. "I have been doing the pre-training activation and warm ups with the rest of the squad now so I feel more a part of things, and then going off to do my individual work but it is certainly feeling better. "To start with all of my rehab work was in the gym at the stadium but now I am back at the training ground it is much better for me and I can see the progression. Rehab can be a lonely time but I am feeling good now and really keen to progress but I know I need to stay calm and take things step by step. "At the moment, I am running, striking a ball and doing lots of things I couldn’t do until recently and learning the right movements again. It does feel strange to back out there after so long but it is great to be back. "I have a great connection with (fitness coach) Ash Adebayo. He will push me as much as I can. "I am desperate to be in contention before the end of the season but I can't rush things, I need to take it step by step and make sure things are fully right before I am ready to come back."