Gently does it, admits Locky

NO NEED TO RUSH . . . Adam Lockwood concedes he remains a “little bit off” a comeback game.

ADAM Lockwood would never shun a call to arms, but admits he doesn’t think it would be entirely sensible to be starting games for Athletic after a six-month lay off.

Injury problems have meant the club captain has missed the whole of the 2014-15 season so far, after extending his contract for a full season in the summer.

The 33-year-old Yorkshireman, one of the best performers as Athletic pulled away from relegation danger last year, may be named as a sub for the second game at Gillingham tomorrow. But he admits it has been a frustrating time.

“I have tried to make use of the time as best I can,” said Lockwood. “I am still a little bit off yet. We were low on numbers at Fleetwood and the weather is not really helping with getting back into the swing of things.”

A rare foot injury in a pre-season friendly nobbled Lockwood’s chances. After recovering from that setback in mid-November, a degenerative knee problem threatened at one point to need surgery.

That was avoided and the Wakefield-born defender now looks lean and almost ready to return.

The former Doncaster and Yeovil centre-back has been combining his rehabilitation with helping out with coaching duties at the club. He played an integral role in Lee Johnson’s set-up between the departure of Paul Murray and the arrival of Dean Holden as first-team coach.

Lockwood believes Athletic have overcome their dramatic loss of form: “From the outside it was quite a shock we had. Confidence took a little knock. But when you look at the last couple of performances, they were positive. We have got back to concentrating on what we believe in.”