Cassidy focused on retaining rosy outlook

Photo: PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH.

BREAKING POINT . . Athletic forward Jake Cassidy is attended to by physio Craig Schofield.

JAKE Cassidy is determined to get back to firing on all cylinders again for Athletic.

Showing up well in the opening two fixtures of the season, the ex-Wolves forward then chipped a bone and suffered ligament damage early in the home game against Fleetwood.

This left him facing 12 weeks of recovery, but the 22 year old isn’t keen to get bogged down in the past — not even when he hasn’t managed a full season of action since becoming a pro footballer.

“It’s a big setback but there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said. “There’s no point getting down, as I can’t change what has happened.

“I must focus on my recovery. When I return a massive part of the season will still be left, and hopefully I can help the team to do good things.”

That he had seemed so settled so soon with Athletic, as the spearhead of manager Darren Kelly’s attack, makes the long lay-off especially badly timed.

“I enjoyed the first few games and felt I was playing well which makes the injury frustrating,” Cassidy added.

“Everyone can see we have a good team and that we also enjoy playing. And the new players have settled in well.”