3: The One With: The Tackle

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I had been back in full team training for a month now, my game minutes picking up with the first start pending very soon, I could feel it. The last few games were against top opponents which were a struggle to break down, so limiting my time while I gain confidence again in the one v one tackles was the best option, however, this did mean I had a slower return than I would have hoped for.

I spent a lot of time to Darren, our defence coach when everyone was either on a break or it was a day off. The determination to build the confidence back up to where it had been before my injury was key. The confidence I needed so that I could be there for the team and help them during match days.

"Hows training been this week?" Mum asked as we walked around the lake with Bella.

"It's good. We play Aston Villa this week, Alex says he's happy with how I am progressing so could potentially be looking at starting" the grin on my face only confirming how much I wanted this moment to happen.

"Do you feel you're ready for it?"

I nodded as Bella continued to run around ragged, hopefully tiring herself out. "Yeah, me and Darren have been going through a lot of drills and you know what he is like, doesn't go easy on me." A soft chuckle under my breath as mum nodded, confirming the fact.

"That's good, it will only-"

"Bella" I called out, my voice raised as I cut mum off from her sentence. "Stop that!" Bella had run over barking at another dog, her confidence was high around other dogs but she would usually quickly go shy once the other dog reacted. "Sorry," I mumbled as the owner approached, pulling her dog away.

"No it's fine, Ollie can stand his ground, can't you Ol's" she said, her baby voice coming out as she spoke to her spaniel. They quickly ushered away, resuming their walk. I turned my head with a grin on my face then back to mum.

We continued our walk around the lake talking about my expected return back to the starting eleven and all the excitement and nerves that it brought. After a good hour and half we loaded Bella into the car, I pulled mum in a tight hug before we went our separate ways.

During my recovery, the lake had become my escape from rehab and away from everyone asking how I was. My rehab was during summer and spring mainly, so the walks were beautiful and picturesque. I would regularly sit on the benches taking it all in with a bit of people watching as the lake was off the St. Albans town centre. It was a small lake with an old fashioned pub just next to it, so it drew in a lot of families and couples, young and old spending their weekend and evening together.

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Monday approached and my first full recovery session of the season. Now I know this isn't usually something to smile about, but a full recovery session meant I played more than a few minutes, which I had yesterday against Aston Villa. I started my first game of the season since returning from injury and it was amazing. Everything I would have hoped for.

The crowd and the girls were amazing pushing and motivation myself and the whole team on for a full 90 minutes. Villa did prove to be a tough team to break of course, but with Lotte by my side, our defensive partnership only strengthening the more we trained and played together.

"How you feeling today?" Lia asked as I laid on the recovery bench beside her.

"Sore, like a 90 year old woman" I laughed, getting a few chuckles from her as well. "I got out of bed and thought I might need a walking stick."

"Welcome back" she cheered, her tone sarcastic as if to confirm this was the pain in my muscles I had been asking for when waiting to return.

"It's a good pain, well tiredness not pain. I wouldn't swap it for the world"

"It was good to have you back, even if I didn't start with you it was good to end the game with you. Now just waiting for the LW squared starting eleven reunion" she reached her hand our for mine, a sweet moment as she grinned with our fingers laced together.

"Not long, hopefully this is the first of many starts." I confirmed as our hands disconnected.

"Well if Cassie has anything to do with it, she was so angry at Alex and the coaching staff yesterday"

"Angry?"

"yeah, she can't understand why she isn't playing more." Wally rolled her eyes as she spoke, "she kept asking Darren and he eventually just ignored her, saying 'I've said its nothing, its a team sport' this girl is such an individual player."

"Was she like this before or does she just really dislike me?"

"Well she was playing every 90 minute game so she didn't have to share game time, did she?"

"True"

Lia and I continued the treatment as we spoke about the game and area's of improvement. I loved these kind of discussions with her as her game intelligence was always interesting to hear and her break down would help me see what I could improve or anything I didn't pick up on.

______

Training this week was tough as we got ready to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend. The changing room was all laughs following onto to the training grounds as I walked over with Wally and Steph.

We started with some warm up drills and quickly went into a competitive game where the squad was split in half for eight players per team with two defenders either side. I was paired with Lotte as I usually was and Cassie paired with Codi. The first 30 minutes of the game went well defensively for both teams as neither team had found the net. After a five minute cool down, we quickly got back in position for the restart.

Alessia ran down the centre of the pitch as she eyed out the goal, Lotte went in with a clean interception as she successfully poked the ball towards me on the left. With an open left side I carried the ball passed the halfway line, quickly hitting the ground a few seconds later. My back arched from the hard hit to the grass, my eyes opening after a few seconds as Cassie stood a few steps away from me.

"Cassie what do you think you're doing?" Alex yelled, his voice loud and firm making it obvious with his frustrated tone. "She is your team mate!" He carried on.

"Not in this game, I had to recover the ball didn't I?" Cassie shrugged

"It's training you go easier on your teammates in training."

Cassie approached me, standing above she held out her hand to help me to my feet. I scowled as I ignored it sitting up with my arms on my knees. "Sorry mate, didn't stop in time, it wasn't meant to be that aggressive" she tapped my shoulder holding her hand out again. I took it this time as she pulled me to my feet.

"Yeah sure, that's what happened" I replied, rolling my eyes as I stood in front of her.

I took a few steps forward, my leg feeling slightly uneasy as I hunched over shaking my head to Alex. He signalled for me to sub off for precaution. I sat on the side with the rest of the coaching staff as the physiotherapist assessed my knee better.

"Come with me to the medial room and we can assess it better"

The assessment in the medical room was tough to hear, a knock right as I was getting my minutes and starts back. Right as I was getting the confidence back.

I sat in a silent changing room to gather my thoughts before the girls had gotten back. A few sharp breaths as I rested my head on the wall behind me.

The door opened shortly after with a loud bang against the wall behind it, "oops" Katie chuckled, "did I wake you?" She joked as I my head jumped up from the bang.

"Nah, just enjoying the silence while it lasted. With you and Beth here its over now"

"Hows the leg?" Kim asked as she took a seat beside me.

"Going to be on the side lines for the next game, out for two training sessions." I sighed.

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1448 word count

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