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Purdie's troublesome knee
Rob Purdie has had a very "stop/start" opening to the new campaign due to injury. He was once again forced off the field in Tuesday night's clash with Doncaster Rovers due to what appeared to be a knee injury.
The problem seems to date back to the end of last season. He missed the second leg of the play off tie with Aldershot after sustaining an injury in the first game at The Rec. His pre-season was also plagued by injury. He only made a couple of appearances in friendlies. Those who were at the game, will remember his fabulous volleyed goal at Evesham but they will also remember how he pulled up as soon as he had struck the ball, holding his knee.
This, once again, seemed to be the problem on Tuesday. Purdie struck a powerful effort that took a deflection on it's way to goal, forcing the 'keeper into a diving save. However, once he had struck the ball Purdie started to limp, and then appeared to do a static stretch with his hands placed on his knee. Everytime Purdie strikes the ball with any power, it seems to cause him discomfort. He had missed the F.A. Cup game with what was apparently a groin injury, although it is unsure wether the problem was different to the one he seems to be experiencing on a regular basis.
It is unknown whether the problem is serious, but it seems to be stopping him to be performing to the best of his ability. A knee operation may be needed to correct the problem, should there be a serious once, but this could keep Purdie out of action for months. The longer he goes on playing the more likely it is that the injury could become more serious. He is an important part of Graham Turner's side, but it may be better in the long run if he was given the required time to recover fully from this.
Meanwhile, Turner has expressed his concern about tiredness creeping into his side. Despite being obviously delighted with the result, he thought that the extra time and the penalties had taken its toll on his side on Tuesday.
"The LDV game against Scunthorpe went to extra time and it went to penalties, then we found out we had a hangover from it and that lasted too long.
" What we're trying to do now is make sure that the players get the rest, the proper food and the fluids and do a good warm down and hopefully we will be ready for Barnet on Saturday." Turner said speaking after the LDV game to BBC H&W.