Hungry Wigan Athletic star Saydee ready to make up for lost time
Wigan Athletic star Christian Saydee has made a tentative return from a calf injury, but boss Gary Caldwell remains cautious with regards to the fan favourite's recovery.
Getting injured so early in pre-season could turn out to be a blessing in disguise in some respects for Wigan Athletic star Christian Saydee.
The forward was dealt a huge blow in the summer when he suffered a significant calf problem.
It was in early July that Saydee’s best laid plans for this season were thrown into disarray when he broke down injured.
The former Portsmouth star missed the opening couple of months of the campaign and his absence has been felt.
The Latics sit bottom of the League One table after picking up just seven points out of a possible 36.
Over the past couple of weeks, Saydee has made a tentative return – featuring as a substitute in each of the last four games.
Although his cameo appearances have ultimately not been enough to change Wigan’s fortunes – they have lost their past three league games – Saydee has provided a spark in attack.
He has already notched twice off the bench in the 2-1 defeats to Oxford United and Huddersfield respectively, and his late appearance on Tuesday was too little too late in the 3-0 loss at Leicester City.
It may be that this weekend’s home game against Bromley is the moment to throw Saydee in from the start.
However, boss Gary Caldwell has insisted that he will remain overly cautious with regards tothe fan favourite’s recovery.
The 24-year-old admits he has been working diligently over the past two months to get himself back to full fitness.
Indeed, he looks leaner and fitter and he admits the enforced absence has made him hungrier than ever before.
"The injury was difficult because I had worked really hard in the off-season to come back and show people what I could do,” Saydee said.
"It was a little setback but sometimes this is how its meant to be. I take the positives from being injured in terms of it changing my mindset in terms of making me a bit hungrier to wanting to get back out there and get in the best shape as possible.
"(The medical team) pushed me in the gym and I stuck to it. I am feeling better and looking better, so I am happy.
"When I did the injury, I was off my feet for a while but they quickly got me on the watt bike, and mostly upper body work – once I could do that for a week or two of that, I started to do more proper watt bike work every day which was obviously draining.
"It was mostly gym and watt bike until I could get outside.”