Key midfielder hoping for more game time this evening
Alex midfielder Tom Lowery is hoping that his return to playing action will end what he has described as a ‘nightmare’ period of injury for him. The diminutive midfielder made a successful return for the club’s Under-23s last week at Birmingham City and he is expected to be granted more minutes against Newcastle United’s Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy competition this evening.
Lowery has not featured for the first team since going as far as he could with a hernia problem until late January. The former Academy graduate from Holmes Chapel had continued to play through the pain barrier for many months, but enough became enough as Crewe Alexandra pressed for promotion.
The man who returned five goals last season, including the club’s Goal of the Season against Salford, underwent surgery on the injury, but still suffered some soreness.
Hence why, David Artell and the medical staff at the club have implemented a cautious approach with him on his return to action.
Tom told crewealex.net: “It has been a bit of a nightmare time for me if I am being honest. It has been a frustrating eight months or so and it has taken longer than expected.
“I perhaps came back a bit too quickly after the operation and I still had a bit of soreness in relation to a separate problem but thankfully that looks to have been sorted out now and I can get back on track.
“Now my aim is to get 100% fit and get back into the team. I have played with pain for a number of months and tried to get through to the end of the season but I couldn’t manage it past January and had to have the operation.
“There have been some dark times and Owen (Clarke), the physio, has been really good with me. He has helped me get through some bad days and not rushed me back and I am grateful to him.
Tom added: “It was just nice to be back on the pitch last week and playing pain free. It has been a long time since I’ve done that so it is all positive and hopefully I will get some more minutes against Newcastle.”