Ben back in action for the reserves...
BEN PURKISS is closing in on a return to action having come through 45 minutes of Wednesday’s reserve team clash with Port Vale.The full-back picked up an ankle injury on the first day of our Devon tour back in July to leave him frustrated on the sidelines, but now he can’t wait to be back involved.
“I was delighted to be back in action on Wednesday afternoon,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I played, so it was good to get out there because you can’t replicate match practice and being involved in a competitive game of football.
“My general fitness levels are really good. At the moment I am doing one really intense day and then letting it settle for a day, so it’s progressing nicely.
“I could have probably played longer on Wednesday, but it was just a case of getting 45 minutes under my belt and letting it adapt and then going again.
“It’s been a frustrating time; three weeks ago I thought I was going to be back and probably got a bit carried away. I am someone who pushes it every single day and maybe I pushed it a little too much.
“But now I’m making sure that I have everything covered and take things a step at a time because ankles are complicated.
“The injury situation has been unbelievable; I’ve never known the treatment room so busy. It got to the point where we had to have individual appointment times to come in because of the sheer volume of people in there.
“In Jon Whitney we have someone who is very knowledgeable both in terms of treatment and rehabilitation; so that when players do come back they are not going to be far off being ready for selection.”