Striker James Norwood declared himself fit and ready to play at Gillingham on Saturday, despite having limped off with a groin problem after 35 minutes away against the MK Dons on Tuesday, an injury he says he'll have to continue to manage over the course of the season.

“It’s OK, I’m training today, fit for selection for tomorrow so things are looking good. It’s all settled down well,” the striker said.

“It’s something I’ve been carrying, it just had a little bit too much on Tuesday but I’m good to go.”

He says he’s had the injury since his time with Tranmere: “It showed up on my medical, it’s something we’ve been managing and it’s something we’ve been looking at different options for and I’m continuing to play, so there’s no problem as of yet.”

The 29-year-old says admitted he feared the injury might have been more severe when he came off, something he can’t recall doing previously.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “I think [that's the case] any time you have to come off. I think that’s the first time I’ve come off with an injury in my career, so it was a bit of a shock, I didn’t really know how to handle it but the main thing is that it settled right down and I’m training three days later.”

"Reflecting on the win against the MK Dons, he added: “Brilliant. It was everything we want. We played free-flowing, attacking football in the first half and it was backs against the wall for the last 10 minutes of the second.

“We showed a resilience and fight to keep a clean sheet. Big Tommy was incredible in goal and the back four was solid, they dealt with everything flying into our box. We showed both sides of our game.”

Asked how he goes about managing the injury, he said: “Just anything I can do really. I liaise with the physio every day and let him know how I’m feeling so if I have to taper down on a certain day then I’ll do that.

“But ultimately I’ll go out and train every day and just carry on. I think it’s just about feeling the pain but just fighting it as such.

“I’ve played injured, you ask any footballer, you don’t feel 100 per cent any of the time, you’re just happy as long you can get through training, get through games and your performance level doesn’t drop too far, then you’re good to go.”

He says he plays through the pain, but points out that that's not unusual in football with players often carrying long-term niggles.

“Yes, since Tranmere, yes,” he said. “It’s football, people have achy knees, achy ankles, it’s just part and parcel of football, you just get on with it.”

Photo: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 13:14 - Sep 20 so carrying a long term injury that will obviously re occur from time to time, so ditch the wrestling antics there's a good lad,
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robmonkey007 added 13:37 - Sep 20 It was for charity... I hope he does plenty more! Keep it up, theres a good lad.
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algarvefan added 18:38 - Sep 20 Don't get me wrong, love his attitude but I'm not sure ignoring pain is good for a professional athlete? Good to see him back so soon though, expected it to be months on Tuesday evening!!
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Dissboyitfc added 19:13 - Sep 20 i am with you dirty, he is carrying an injury that needs to be nursed. no one is disputing how worthy the cause is, everyone knows someone who has suffered with this terrible disease! so i say cut the physical involvement in the wrestling!
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