Hamshaw ready for battle - exclusive

Last updated : 21 October 2004 By Andy Parsons
The winger, who is now Wednesday's longest-serving player, has been out of action for a year-and-a-half since damaging his knee against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day 2002.


Hamshaw is one of the darlings of the kop and his plight over the last few years has been warmly supported by Wednesdayites, but now the 22-year-old wants to stay injury free and get his place back - although he has to dislodge Jon-Paul McGovern first.


He told Footymad: "The last few years have been disappointing for me with the injuries and especially with JP coming in; it is harder to get into the team.

"JP is a great player and Wednesday wouldn’t have been interested in him if that wasn’t the case but obviously he has got the shirt at the moment and I have to keep my head down and work as hard as I can so hopefully when my chance comes I can take it with both hands, like I have done for all the time I have been at this club.

"The main thing for me personally is that I stay clear of injuries and concentrate on keeping fit."

The Rawmarsh product desperately wants to play and he cannot hide his discontent about the last two years, especially after making a return to fitness only to pick up the same injury in pre-season last year - but he is enjoying training again although now wants his efforts to be rewarded come 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.

He added: "I have been sidelined for nearly two years - since Boxing Day 2002 so it is very disappointing but I have to keep fit and keep confident so I can try and get back into the team.

"At the moment I am really enjoying training again but there is no point enjoying it – you want to be playing come Saturday afternoon and that is one thing as a footballer you want to do as you get the matchday buzz but just the despondency when you don’t play."

Tomorrow, Matt exclusively talks about the past and future of the club.