Striker Ched Evans is on the cover of Saturday afternoon’s edition of The One And Only, as he discusses his return to action.
After such a frustratingly long period out through injury, Ched admitted he was ‘desperate’ to be back involved, and what a return he has made.
Prior to his reappearance in the matchday squad in the game against Middlesbrough last month, the forward had not been involved since the defeat to Huddersfield in early August.
It was a condition called plantar fasciitis which kept him on the sidelines – an injury which he had suffered earlier in his career in 2017.
He was out for four or five weeks back then, but this time it was a much longer spell out of the team.
Ched told The One And Only: “I picked it up in pre-season in Scotland and then I really felt it coming out at half-time against Celtic. It kind of just lingered from that point.
“Against Man City, it was there, but it’s the type of injury when one day it can be alright and ease off.
“I played against Hull – again it was sore – and the more you work it, the tighter it becomes. I think I then missed the next game because of it, it settled down for Huddersfield, and then there was a point in the game where I planted my left foot and I really felt it. That was that then.
“It just got progressively worse and then everything around it was tightening up, like my Achilles, my calf. It was painful to walk and impossible to run.
“I’d feel like I was getting somewhere and then it would flare up again. I went and got an injection into it and about three days later I was just stretching in the gym and I felt a pop.
“This is like going on seven weeks and it was still that tight after seven weeks of doing nothing. I felt the pop and at first I was a bit concerned, but I instantly felt relief underneath from the pop, but then there was a new pain of a tear so it was then just getting that right which again took about four or five weeks.”
There’s plenty more from Ched in his full programme interview, as he talks recovery, returning to the scoresheet and much more.
Also in this issue of The One And Only, Joe Rodwell-Grant answers your questions, Alan Browne reflects on his most memorable game and Scott Sinclair tells us his favourite things.
You can pick up a copy of the programme from around the ground on Saturday afternoon for £3.50, or alternatively get a copy delivered straight to your door by clicking here.