It has been a bitter sweet season so far for Fleetwood Town’s Andy Mangan whose bright start to the campaign has been tempered by a knee injury which required surgery.
By David MitchellIt has been a bitter sweet season so far for Fleetwood Town’s Andy Mangan whose bright start to the campaign has been tempered by a knee injury which required surgery.
The striker has since missed ten games with a setback which he regards as the worst of his career. Despite a lengthy recuperation period, the 26 year-old remains cheerful and optimistic:
‘The operation went really well and I’m on the road to recovery. Proper rehabilitation is the main priority now. The surgeon has suggested 4 to 5 months out and in my mind I’m looking at taking the full period in order to get fully fit but, obviously, anything before would be a bonus. I’m seeing a surgeon in Cheltenham and will be guided by him as regards when I can move forward into activities such as swimming or cycling.’
‘At the moment I’m raising and straightening my leg on a machine at home for up to ten hours a day! It’s uncomfortable and frustrating for someone like me who’s normally on the go all the time! I’m doing a lot of reading. The current book is ‘The Chimp Paradox’ by sports psychologist, Steve Peters! Very interesting! There’s always TV to watch but I’m also getting into computer games such as FIFA for the first time in five or six years!’
‘The injury’s come at the worst time when all was going well for the team but everyone’s been really supportive. My family have been brilliant, of course, and I’m getting lots of texts from the lads. Then there are the Scousers who are in touch all the time! They’ve always got something to say! I speak to the lads every day.’
Mangan has been able to get to matches, particularly at Highbury. He will be at the ground next Tuesday as Town welcome one of his former clubs, Accrington Stanley:
‘I’ve been to all the home games so far. It’s important to me to support the lads because the TEAM is everything in football. It’s not about the individual. I feel very strongly about that.’
The ever-popular Mangan has ‘absolutely no regrets’ about making the move to Fleetwood last year. He has already scored 23 times in 56 appearances. His many followers in the Cod Army will be hopeful that he can soon extend both those sequences and continue to make an impact in Town’s first season in the Football League.