Whitehouse

I’m not sure of the exact point he’s at in his rehabilitation from this potentially career ending injury but there was a recent update and he seemed to be coming into a phase where he can run, kick jump/land etc, but I don’t recall a mention of being into the phase where he can twist, turn, sustain impact/tackle etc with the likelihood that he has lots more strengthening and fitness work to undertake. We don’t know if he’s played 10 mins in a gentle 5 a side in training.

Twisting, turning bending etc are always the later, and hardest to return to, and there is also the  psychological aspect where the player is fully restored confidence-wise. He’s had a major ligament regraft and recovery is 6-9 months and not guaranteed. He may still be in mental recovery where he’s working towards being fully confident in that knee’s stability. Doing too much too soon risks all that recovery work.

In short, I can’t see any way that we could or should play him in a match, even for 5 minutes. Even aside from the moral regard, you wouldn’t take your pie out the oven 15 minutes before it was cooked because you couldn’t wait to see how it tasted.
And yes I have had this injury and it changed my life.

I listened to his interview on ifollow I think was a month back and his last update said he hasn't done the twisting etc yet and it was next on his rehabilitation.

Not worth the risk. A bad twist and he could be out for next season too.

We have plenty of youngsters who we could give some game time to in the last game.

I am looking forward to a midfield of Hess, Clifton and Whitehouse next season!