Jake Forster-Caskey joined Scott Minto and Alan Curbishley in the CharltonTV studio during Tuesday night’s fixture against MK Dons as he discussed...
- Nearing a return to fitness following his ACL injury
- The rehab process
- Honing his coaching skills whilst injured
The 27-year old was forced off with an ACL injury in Charlton’s 3-1 victory against Lincoln City at the tail end of last season and has been going through an extensive period of rehab at the club.
“The rehab has gone really well. It’s been slow but when I got the injury the surgeon said it would be a nine-12 month injury, so yes it’s been slow but it is behind me now. The medical team and the sports science team have done amazing; I am at a place where I feel fit, strong and I am back training with the lads.
"I’m back in with the lads now so that is nice - it’s just about finding your feet then after that looking to get some minutes with the U23s."
Forster-Caskey played a vital role for the Addicks last season, picking up 34 league appearances and claiming five goals and four assists. The midfielder has recently joined the rest of the squad out on the grass after experiencing nine months out due to the severity of the injury.
As well as the current injury Forster-Caskey is facing, he has gone through a similar experience earlier on in his Charlton career which saw him sidelined for the majority of the 2018/19 campaign. He was questioned on whether that previous injury has made this rehab process a lot easier.
“Missing one game is tough," he said.
"When a surgeon says to you that you will be out for nine months it is a tough pill to swallow. Having gone through the experience before it has made it easier as I am familiar with each stage and what is coming, but missing games as a professional footballer is tough.
"The Charlton medical team is amazing. They have been great with me and they have got me to a place where I feel really fit and strong. It’s now whether I can find my feet again and the only way I can do that is by going out with the lads."
Since the beginning of the current season the club has seen the likes of George Dobson, Elliot Lee and other midfielders come into the fray, with Forster-Caskey questioned whether that makes his journey back into the squad just that little bit more difficult.
“I have had that experience of going from the top of the pole to the bottom and again I am going from the top of the pole to the bottom, but I know what is coming so I know how to climb back up."
Due to the amount of time he has spent sidelined, Forster-Caskey has been helping to coach the younger teams within the club's esteemed academy.
“It has been going really well, I have been coaching the younger age groups - the U14s to 16s. It is nice to focus on something else so it is not just rehab every single day, so it gives me another focus and also learn the game. It has been really nice to see the young talent we’ve got because we have some really good players.
“I have learnt different aspects of the game; you see the game from a different perspective and the other thing I have learnt is how annoying players can be at times so I will probably be a bit nicer from now on!
“I have always wanted to go into that side of the game, whether it be coaching or management, and with injuries it pushes you a little bit quicker. I am on my A at the moment so maybe I have done that a bit quicker than I perhaps would have but it is a good thing. Football does stop at some stage so it’s good to know what you want to go into."
Article by: Alex Forrest