AN HOUR OF football in the last month hasn’t been ideal preparation but Simon Cox is ready to hit the ground running if he’s given a chance in Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Cox was initially expected to miss up to six weeks following a freak ankle injury in his second game of the season for Nottingham Forest.
That time-frame put a question mark over his availability for the games against Sweden and Austria.
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But after three weeks on the sidelines he made his return in the Capital One Cup last week and proved that he was ready to take his place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad.
The ankle was still strapped up in Malahide yesterday and he’s making time for some strength work in the gym but, other than that, he’s ready to go.
“I did 90% of one ligament in the ankle but I don’t think it would have mattered if I had snapped the ligament,” Cox explained yesterday. “It would have been the same process and the same length of time.
“It wasn’t a nice one at all but it’s just one of those things, a freak accident, and I have to get on with it.
The ball hit the end of my toe and my ankle sort of turned. I went over the top of it and heard a pop and then everything else after that.
I went to see the specialists and they gave me a time length and I was back a little bit quicker than that.
At the minute it’s doing well. I’ve got no problems twisting and turning, shooting. It seems to be withstanding the pressure at the minute.
After a few frustrating weeks Cox would love to be involved on Friday night, even if that means starting on the wing rather than in his preferred position up front as assistant manager Marco Tardelli hinted yesterday.
“I’d love to be playing as a centre-forward but sometimes it’s not to be and you have to ply your trade outside.
“I wouldn’t say no to it because it’s a massive game and if I can play a part in helping the lads get some results, I look forward to it.
I’d rather be tucking in more and try to get involved in the play than be taking people on. That’s not really my game, it’s more intricate passes with the centre-forwards.
It’s one of those where if you have to do it, you have to do it. I’m looking forward to seeing if I get the nod for it.
Cox ready to kick-start season after 'freak' injury
AN HOUR OF football in the last month hasn’t been ideal preparation but Simon Cox is ready to hit the ground running if he’s given a chance in Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Cox was initially expected to miss up to six weeks following a freak ankle injury in his second game of the season for Nottingham Forest.
That time-frame put a question mark over his availability for the games against Sweden and Austria.
But after three weeks on the sidelines he made his return in the Capital One Cup last week and proved that he was ready to take his place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad.
The ankle was still strapped up in Malahide yesterday and he’s making time for some strength work in the gym but, other than that, he’s ready to go.
“I did 90% of one ligament in the ankle but I don’t think it would have mattered if I had snapped the ligament,” Cox explained yesterday. “It would have been the same process and the same length of time.
“It wasn’t a nice one at all but it’s just one of those things, a freak accident, and I have to get on with it.
After a few frustrating weeks Cox would love to be involved on Friday night, even if that means starting on the wing rather than in his preferred position up front as assistant manager Marco Tardelli hinted yesterday.
“I’d love to be playing as a centre-forward but sometimes it’s not to be and you have to ply your trade outside.
“I wouldn’t say no to it because it’s a massive game and if I can play a part in helping the lads get some results, I look forward to it.
4-4-2 Ireland’s best bet against Sweden — Tardelli
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