Nightmare Simon says
Thursday, 18th Dec 2008Injury struck Simon Wiles is working hard on being able to feature again this season.
The prospects of Dunfermline winger Simon Wiles adding to his two starts and nine appearances off the bench, look remote at least as far as the 2008-09 season is concerned. After arriving in August from Blackpool on a one year contract, Simon became an instant hit with the fans scoring in the Co-operative Cup victory over SPL club St Mirren, and injecting pace into matches when he came on as a substitute.
Unfortunately following a nasty injury at Airdrie in the 3-1 win there in November, it looks as though he is going to be out until near Easter. Given that the season ends on Saturday 9th May (unless we make the Cup final!) that won't leave the 23 year old too much time to demonstrate that he is worthy of an extension to his contract.
The injury was worse than thought and surgery was required. Now his rehabilitation requires him to be connected to a machine that bends his right knee up and down:-
"It's a flippin' nightmare." Simon explained "I've got a portable machine which I take round with me, put on my bed and strap myself in. It's a nightmare. I've got to do it for about eight hours a day and it's a bit of a grind but if it gets me fit...I've been going through every box set under the sun, The Sopranos, 24, you name it."
Simon had come on for Kevin Harper and I was thinking, 'Brilliant. This could be my little break'.
"I went in for a tackle and I landed awkwardly. The lad landed on top of me and it jarred. I tried to carry on but it wasn't running off. I was hoping it was going to be minor so I came off so as not to do any more damage.
"When I went for the scan I was hoping it was only going to be a little clean-up and out for a month or so. I was absolutely devastated. I just could not believe it. I've loved every minute of being up in Dunfermline so far and I thought it was going to be a new chapter for me.
"Everyone has been brilliant with me at the club. I can't put any weight on my right leg so I've been staying at Cal's (team mate Calum Woods) and he's been top drawer. I just love playing footy and when that's taken away for a good five or six months, it's hard to take.
"I've tried to stay positive and just hope this has happened for a reason."
The Englishman from Preston may be positive but he remains uncertain what this all means for his Dunfermline career:-
"Nothing has been said at the moment. To be fair I've just got to try to get back fit and hope that in the weeks and months to come maybe something can be sorted but that's down to the Manager and the Chairman."
Physio Gerry Docherty has granted Wiles some time to head down south over Christmas but he said, "I'll be back up soon after and crack on. I hope to get back off the crutches then and that will be another step."
Wiles, who hopes to start walking and jogging around February or March, recalled,
"When I was 16 I had my cruciate ligament done so I kind of know the process but I thought that was behind me."
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