Plymouth Herald
Simon Walton hopes for Plymouth Argyle first team return this season MIDFIELDER Simon Walton has admitted playing any first team football for Plymouth Argyle between now and the end of the season would be a bonus for him.
The Pilgrims have eight more League One games to go and Walton hopes to be involved in at least some of them.
Walton suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury last July and was told he would not play at all this season.
But the 23-year-old has defied that medical opinion, despite his recovery being delayed by a second operation.
He has already played four times for Argyle's reserves this month, with his latest run-out coming against Torquay United at Home Park today (2pm).
Walton told The Herald: "I feel all right fitness-wise, and with each week and each game it's getting better and better.
"It's a long process. It doesn't come overnight, but each game I have played I feel like I have got sharper.
"I'm not kidding myself, I'm not near where I would want to be yet, but I'm a lot further forward than everybody expected six or seven months ago. I'm just glad to be back."
Walton has been an unused substitute for Argyle's first team on three occasions.
And the former Queens Park Rangers midfielder would relish the chance of a return to action for the senior side.
Walton said: "I reckon I could do a job. I wouldn't be up to full speed, but I feel capable enough to play.
"I wouldn't put myself out there and be a hindrance to the team.
"I have been on the bench for three games now and it has been good to be involved.
"Hopefully, if I can get a few games in before the end of the season it would be a bonus for me."
Walton was injured in his first game of what should have been a season-long loan to Championship club Sheffield United.
He came off worst in a challenge during United's pre-season friendly at Mansfield Town.
Walton said: "It was one of those things. It was hard ground, my studs got caught and I fell funny. It was unfortunate to say the least.
"When I first went to see the surgeon and the (United) physio it was a case of, 'look, just concentrate on getting yourself ready for next season'.
"But I got my head down and worked hard."
He added: "Unfortunately, the situation at the club (Argyle) isn't the best but, to be honest, I'm just glad to be back in and around training and playing games at whatever level it is."
Walton had to wait until August 23 for the operation to repair the cruciate ligament to allow time for the swelling around the knee to subside.
Initially, his rehabilitation did not go according to plan.
Walton said: "I had to have another operation a couple of weeks later because of an infection that got in my knee.
"So to come back this quick was even better.
"Touch wood, everything has gone by the book since then and I owe a lot to the people who have been around me the last few months."
Professional footballers fear cruciate knee ligament injuries because they are notoriously difficult to overcome.
Walton said: "It's the one nobody wants. I know it sounds silly, but a broken leg is easy to fix.
"It wasn't a nice thing to happen but, like I say, I have been fortunate to have a lot of good people around me."
Walton has not made a first team appearance for Argyle since a 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic in February 2009.
He spent most of last season on loan to League Two club Crewe Alexandra, playing 33 times for them.
Then, unexpectedly, he was presented with the opportunity to continue his career in the Championship with Sheffield United.
The Blades' boss at the time was Kevin Blackwell, who had previously worked with Walton at Leeds United.
Walton said: "The chance that came up was brilliant really. It was a dream move for me.
"I'd had a decent season at Crewe so, obviously, people had been watching me.
"It was a chance to kick-start my career, but there is not a lot you can do when something like that (the injury) happens.
"It was tough to take, but I have had plenty of knocks before and it's how you deal with them that makes you who you are."
Torquay reserves can clinch the Wales and West Division title in the Totesport.com Combination with a win against Argyle today.
With one exception, all of the players in the squad who did not start the Gulls' 2-2 draw at Northampton Town on Friday are set to feature at Home Park.
Torquay will also feature Plymouth-born former Argyle centre of excellence prospect Ray Spear, who has been given a professional contract by the Gulls for next season.
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/Walton-hopes-team-return-season/article-3381926-detail/article.html
