Alan Smith's aim since breaking his leg in January has
always been to be fit for the start of the season - and he appears
to be on schedule.
The feisty forward, who suffered the double blow of a broken leg
and dislocated ankle against Liverpool in February, insists he is
getting close to full fitness.
"My aim has always been to be around for the start of the season
and fingers crossed I will not be far off," he told MUTV.
Smith feels fortunate that, at the age of 25, this is the first
serious injury he has had to endure. Which is all the more reason
he will be fired up and ready to return.
"I was lucky to get this far without a major injury because
football is a physical game," he added. "You realise how much it
does mean to you when you come in every day and are putting in the
work after being injured. When I return that hunger will be the
same for me."
Smith's attitude and approach to his rehabilitation from an injury
Sir Alex Ferguson described as "one of the worst I've seen" has
been regularly commended. The Yorkshireman says the key was to
remain positive and stick to the advice given my the medical team
that have overseen his remarkable recovery.
"It would be easy to cut corners but you should never do that," he
says. "I like taking part in sport anyway, so doing bike rides and
things like that was fun. The good thing for me was that I had the
right people in the right place at the right time.
"On the Sunday afternoon (he was injured on the Saturday) my leg
was fixed and in place. You could not ask for more and from then on
I had a positive outlook. I cannot speak highly enough off the way
I have been treated at United. Ever since my injury I have had
great feedback from everyone."
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