Midfield maestro Ben Davies, who should finally get the chance to play at Shrewsbury Town’s new stadium for the first time next week, says he’s been unable to stop smiling since being given the green light to step up his comeback.
Davies, 26, has been much missed by Town since having the misfortune to suffer an Achilles tendon injury in the closing stages of the memorable play-off semi-final victory at MK Dons in May. But he has worked tirelessly to get back ahead of schedule and, having played the last 20 minutes for the reserves at Port Vale last week, Davies is set to turn out for Town’s second string at home to Stoke City in the Pontin’s League on Monday (2pm).
It’s more good news for Town who travel to fourth-placed Rotherham United on Saturday aiming to build on two wins from their last three League Two games.
“I can’t wait to play at the new stadium and I’ve been dying to get out there,” said Davies. “I just love playing football and I’ve really missed it, so really I’m just happy to be playing wherever it is.
“Hopefully I’ll be playing in the reserve game against Stoke and I just hope it all goes well and I get through it – then I shouldn’t be too far away.”
Davies, who scored 12 goals from midfield last season, said it was an exciting moment when he was summoned for the bench to kick a ball in a match environment for the first time in six months at Vale Park last week.
“I’m not really the nervous type so that wasn’t a problem,” he said. “It’s just a case of being determined now because I’ve been out for so long. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do so when I get out there it’s a chance to show everyone what I can do.
“It was good at Port Vale and I was quite surprised how comfortable I felt really. I thought I would be a little bit rusty but as they say, once you have it you never really lose it, so once the first five minutes or so had gone I was fine.”
Davies has pushed himself hard in his quest to make a complete recovery, revealing Sunday has often been his only day off each week. Now all his hard work is starting to pay off.
“It’s been brilliant to just be around the lads again,” he said. “I can’t stop smiling since I’ve been back training. It’s just brilliant to be back out there and kicking a ball again. I’ve kept my fitness up so it’s just been a case of stepping straight back into normal training.”
Davies’s initial aim was to be playing again by Christmas which means he’s ahead of schedule and, while he’s not taking anything for granted, he hopes it will not be too long before he’s pushing for a return to first team action.
“I’ve grafted and grafted and that’s paying dividends,” he said. “It’s now just a case of getting a bit more of a feel of the ball.”
Davies added the backing he has received from manager Gary Peters has also been much appreciated.
“I don’t think I would have been able to get through this as well as I have if it hadn’t been for the gaffer and the chairman. They’ve backed me all the way. It’s been hard but the gaffer’s always been there for me, as have the physios Rachel (Greenley) and Joe (Hinnigan).”