When your luck’s out...

James Wesolowski: spot the difference between him and the Energiser bunny

Athletic star Charlie writes exclusively for Chron Sport


MISSING the Bradford match was so disappointing - and just about sums up my luck at the moment.

Having worked really hard to come back from an ankle injury, I felt a tightness in my thigh on striking a ball in training and pulled out of the squad for the Sunday game. The scan results came through yesterday and showed a significant tear of the thigh muscle, which was absolutely devastating news.

I had an injection to try to promote healing, but I am still out for four to six weeks — which means I’ll miss the festive games.

If we come out of this crucial part of the season into the New Year playing in the same vein as the past eight weeks, a very exciting second part of the campaign is in prospect.

Going into the Bradford game, the form and confidence of the team were at all-time highs. We have finally been picking up points to match the merit of the performances — a big difference from early in the season, when the boys outplayed opponents without getting results.

Being unavailable on Sunday, I was a spectator at a great game of football. The atmosphere was fantastic, with two teams toe-to-toe in a fierce battle that was a great advert for League One.

Bradford were a big, physical side, but each of our players stood up to the challenge — none more so than James Wesolowski.

James was everywhere - like the Energizer Bunny with his non-stop running; a real driving force.

Tomorrow, Mansfield come to Boundary Park in round two of the FA Cup: another massive contest for the club and a potential big-money draw for the winners.

Obviously, there’s a different mindset to that of the previous round: this time we will be favourites to win. But in this competition, anything can happen.

Everyone loves the underdog, so the lads will be focused on making sure we put ourselves in the hat for round three.