Ahead of Town's clash against Sheffield United at The County Ground on Tuesday, Jamie Sendles-White opened up about his recovery from a ruptured ACL and why he supports The Blades...
Jamie, it has been a long road for you since rupturing your ACL in September, but you have come on leaps and bounds in recent weeks so tell us where exactly you are in your recovery?
“I had the second operation which really helped my knee and it allowed me to really push on with my rehab. That was a positive and I’m outside running now and it feels so good to be back on the grass with a pair of boots on again.
"Obviously, I’ve got to take it slow to make sure I don’t push myself too hard but hopefully I’ll be getting the balls out in a couple of weeks which will be really positive for me.”
That must be huge for you in terms of having goals to work towards and to keep you motivated…
“It is massive because you only know how it is once you’ve done this injury and I’ve never been this low and as down as I have through some of the times I’ve had to go through with this injury.
"Being back outside is a massive, massive boost and it makes me feel like I can come back. Being in so much pain and being so down you do think to yourself if you are ever going to get back fit again, but being back outside has been a big boost mentally.”
It has been a tough journey for yourself and you have had many downs, so tell us how you have coped with it and how you have kept yourself positive?
“It is probably one of the hardest things to get through. You know the pain is not going to be forever and you can put it to the back of your mind and grind through it, but the mental side of things is so, so tough, especially on a Saturday when you are sat at home with your knee on ice and watching all the results come in.
"It is horrible because that is all you have known and all you have ever wanted to do is play on a Saturday and be out there on the pitch in-front of the fans, so when you are at home and you can’t do anything it is horrible and it is the worst feeling.”
On to tonight and it is a game that means a lot to you given that you are a Sheffield United fan. Given the fact that you are from London, explain how you came about supporting The Blades?
“My dad is from around that area and he always took me to Sheffield United games when I was young, so I had no choice really! I’ve supported them my whole life. I’ve got lots of memories, including the promotion to the Premiership, I’ve been to Wembley twice to see them and I went to the Millennium Stadium to see them in the Play-Offs when I was a lot younger - they haven’t won any of them so I must be a bad omen!
"I’ve got some good memories and it will be good to watch them here on Tuesday night.”
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