Arsรจne Wenger once said that rehab โfeels like itโs endless when youโre a playerโ, and it certainly felt like that for Carl Jenkinson.
The England right back was sidelined for nine months with a cruciate ligament injury before making his return in Octoberโs League Cup win over Reading, and he has revealed what motivated him to come back better and stronger than before.
โBeing patient is not a typical trait of a footballer because we all just want to be out there playing football,โ Jenkinson told Arsenal Player. โWeโll do anything we can to get out there quicker. You do have to be realistic and sometimes you need people around you to just wind your neck in a bit to be a bit more realistic.
โAt times it did feel like it was endless and it was a long old slog getting back to fitness, but itโs all an experience and all part of a footballerโs career. You have to get on with these things because thereโs no point moping around or sulking.
โIt wonโt help you or the people around you, you want to be as positive as you can, not only for yourself but also for the lads around you that you see every day. It was a difficult time but Iโve taken a lot from it and Iโd like to think that itโll stand me in good stead for the future.
โDid it frustrate me? Massively because youโre watching and thinking, โThat should be me out thereโ but instead youโre sat there because you canโt run or do what you love doing. Itโs very frustrating being injured but thereโs people out there who have had it a lot worse than me, who have had a lot worse injuries than me so Iโm lucky.
โIโm fortunate to have come back. I feel fine and my kneeโs not giving me any problems. Iโm fit and well. Itโs probably not the worst injury Iโll ever have. When I have another one then Iโll just have to deal with it, itโs just part of being a footballer. You just have to get on with things. Thatโs what Iโve tried to do and thatโs what Iโll always try to do.โ
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