Newest Brentford recruit Scott Hogan is battling to overcome an ankle problem brought with him from Rochdale.
The striker whose 32 goals last season played a massive part in getting Dale promoted to League One, admits he needs treatment. Hogan was all but last out of the changing room on Tuesday night after another dose with the medics following a 5-1 away win at Barnet.
However, the razor-sharp forward looked in good nick as a second-half sub while revealing he is limited to cameos for the next week or so.
“I’ve got a bit of a (right) ankle problem at the minute, which I’m trying to sort out from last season that only allows me to play 60 or 70 minutes at best,” he said.
“But I’ve got full faith in the physios, and I’m sure I’ll be up to pace in a bit.”
Once fully fit, Hogan fears the Brentford initiation ceremony more than Championship defenders.
New boys at Griffin Park are required to sing to team-mates, and the player is willing to run a mile on his suffering ankle if he can escape the rite of passage.
“I’m a bit of a shy lad so public speaking I’m not keen on - never mind singing,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. I’ll do all I can to get out of it.
"It’ll ruin me for months after and make me a nervous wreck. Have got I a song ready? I don’t even want to think about it.”
Hogan’s potential embarrassment would have been avoided had he not returned to full-time football.
He drifted out of the game for three years in 2010 and candidly admits he wasn’t prepared to get his head down.
“I didn’t enjoy football at the time,” he said. “I couldn’t commit to being a full-time footballer, and I enjoyed going to college with friends rather than playing football. I wasn’t prepared to make the sacrifices I can now.”
