WINGER Andy Monkhouse has suffered a frustrating stop-start season at Pools.
Feb 24 2008
by lynsey richardson, Sunday Sun
The left-sided player has been restricted to only nine starts this season after being affected by knee injury and suspension.
And now he’s been back in the matchday squad, Monkhouse has spent the last three games sitting on the bench for 90 minutes, including Friday night’s poor home defeat to Northampton.
That should change now that Alan Thompson, the former Newcastle winger, has gone back to Leeds United after a month on loan.
Monkhouse is in line for a start at Bournemouth next weekend and is raring to go and be given a chance to get back to the form which made him such a favourite last season.
“The knee is fine,” he said. “I have been training for four or five weeks now and it is feeling great. I’m just waiting to go again.
“The gaffer wanted me to get some games under my belt.
“I was meant to play for the reserves on Wednesday but unfortunately it was called off, so I’ve just got to keep training hard and try to get back in the team.”
Monkhouse underwent knee surgery at the turn of the year and said: “The operation was just a clean out basically. My knee was just swelling up and there were a few bits and pieces in there which the surgeon cleared out. Fingers crossed I am OK now.
It is difficult not to feel a little despondent about Sunderland at the moment because no matter what sort of spin you try to put on it, three back to back defeats is difficult to accept....
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