Needles can make the toughest of us go weak at the knees – but luckily for AFC Wimbledon’s George Francomb they have had the opposite effect.
The Dons’ midfielder finally returned to first team duties in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Chesterfield, ending 18 weeks out with a torn meniscus and medial ligament damage.
Initial surgery and rehab over the summer appeared to have done the trick, only for the former Norwich youngster to break down again in pre-season at which point a series of injections into the knee became a last resort.
An assist later in the Wimbledon’s first win at League One level, the 25-year-old is delighted and relieved in equal measure to be back.
“I’d had the operation, done all my rehab, come back and then you break down a little bit again and you’re thinking what have I got to do or what is actually wrong here,” he said.
“The injections were the last throw of the dice for me so those three weeks were probably the worst of the whole injury because I just didn’t know how the knee was going to react.
“I thought if they didn’t work I was facing being out until Christmas and possibly another operation, but thankfully they worked.”
The injury sustained in April could not have come at a worse time as it ruled the stalwart out of the biggest day in Dons’ short history – the League Two play-off final at Wembley in May.
He admits it was tough emotionally and mentally, but in the end you have to make the best of it.
“When I first did the injury and I got the bad news it was really tough,” he added.
“You well up a little bit thinking I have played so many games this season and now I’m going to miss the three big days.
“After I got my head around it and had my operation I tried to make myself as much a part of the team behind the scenes, in the changing room and on the bench, just to try and enjoy it as much as I could from the sidelines.
“It was still a great day at Wembley – I enjoyed every minute of it. I knew the boys were going to do it because we were in such good form. I don’t think any team in the league would have stood a chance against us at that time.”
