Jody Craddock exclusive: Skipper sets his sights on a new deal and a New Year Return

Dec 5 2010 by Bill Howell, Sunday Mercury

JODY Craddock has targeted a mid-January return to first team duty and admits the pressure will then be on to earn a new deal.

The 35-year-old will undergo an injection in a fortnight to clear up a niggling thigh injury that has been bugging him for over a year.

“I trained with the kids last week and everything felt really good,” he revealed to the Sunday Mercury.

“I did a bit on Thursday, then a bit more in the gym and it tore at the top when I did a little jump on a small box.

“It was the same tear as before but higher up. It left me thinking: ‘What’s going on?’ so I went to see a specialist in London who scanned it and I’ve got a long strip of scar tissue running down the side of my (left) leg.

“I’ve had it for while. I’ve had the pain. So I’ve got to wait for it to heal which will be two weeks. Then on December 20th they will inject down into it.

“It’s a big needle, I’m told. And I’m no good with needles!

“I don’t know how I am going to cope. All I can think of is the outcome. There aren’t many people specialise in this kind of thing, so touch wood and fingers crossed he can sort it out and I should be back on the road to recovery.”

Craddock should be back playing by the middle of January: “I hope so. That’s my kind of feeling. I’m kinda hoping that way,” he said.