7:00am Friday 12th March 2010
By Neil Perrett
MARK Molesley is today due to take a significant step on the road to recovery as he bids to win his race to rejoin Cherries’ promotion push.
The tenacious midfielder has been sidelined for five months by a persistent foot injury and had major surgery to rectify the problem in January.
Under the watchful eye of physio Steve Hard, Molesley will this morning put his foot to the test when he runs for the first time on the Canford training pitch.
Molesley has been preparing for his big day with a series of sessions on a specially-modified running machine at Solent University.
Speaking to the Daily Echo last night, the effervescent Londoner said: “It has a thicker rubber mat than a normal running machine so there is less impact. You wear a harness and it elevates you to take off your body weight.
“I’ve done a few sessions on the running machine and did it fully weight bearing for the first time on Wednesday. I was back on the exercise bike and in the swimming pool today and am hoping to run on grass for the first time tomorrow.
“It will be the first time I will have run properly for five months and I’m hoping it will be the first step back for me. But it’s a long road and we don’t know how the foot is going to respond. I’m just hoping it stands up to the challenges it is about to be put through.”
Molesley, a key figure during the first three months of the season, was understandably reluctant to set a date for his comeback.
“I can’t just jump straight back into full training,” said the 28-year-old. “I have been out for five months and I have to be careful. I can’t start pounding the foot from day one and will have to break it in slowly.
“Myself and Steve will play each session by ear. If it feels good and I can carry on then we will pick it up. I might need to ice it for a couple of days and stay off it.
“I still get a few twinges but the specialist said that was bound to happen. He did have a hammer and chisel in there during the operation and quite a bit was done.
“If everything goes to plan with the rehab, I should have a chance of making it back towards the end of the season. That’s if I can get anywhere near the side because the lads have done brilliantly.”
Molesley said his 10-year-old boxer dog Fraser was more pleased than most to see him off his crutches: “I had to get a dog walker for him because I felt so useless!”
Meanwhile, Shaun Cooper has been pencilled in to hit the comeback trail during a reserve game at Plymouth Argyle a week on Wednesday.
The midfielder has been out since undergoing hip surgery in the summer.
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