Walsall’s Darren Byfield: I played through the pain
Saturday 29th May 2010, 11:29AM BST.
Darren Byfield today revealed he was only “50 per cent” fit and playing through the pain barrier at the end of last season.
The Walsall striker has just completed the Saddlers’ ‘maintenance week’ which has seen him recover from the knock he picked up against Wycombe in April.
And he admits he was only half fit at the end of the campaign as he helped the club to 10th in League One – their best finish in six years.
“I was worried towards the end of last season because I damaged my knee against Wycombe and it was getting worse so I was sprinting on one leg. It was sore,” said the 33-year-old.
“I couldn’t shoot or anything, I was just trying to get through games.
“It’s only been this week where it’s actually healed. A rest was needed and I was playing at about 50 per cent but you want to play and the lads wanted to finish 10th so that’s what pushed me on.”
Byfield and groin injury victim Julian Gray were just two of the walking wounded and the striker believes fans need to know the Saddlers squad will put their bodies on the line.
“A lot of people don’t know the players were hindered because they were carrying something or have had a bad knock,” he said.
“There were a few of us who were carrying knocks and had to play so it’s testament to the players and their determination.”
By Nick Mashiter
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Good on ya Daza
Report abuse
think that tells the story of how much hutch rates nico and grigg ?
Report abuse
Or how week the squad was..
Report abuse
Amazing we didnt give Grigg a run with Byfield suffering a knee injury, which could have degenerated.
Report abuse
i watched through the pain
what a load of rubbish
didn’t seem to affect his dancing in a london nightclub !!!
Report abuse
Could tell as well, at the Carlisle game Byfield was tired after about 50 minutes, Chris didn’t sub him though.
Report abuse
No darren you are just rubbish, always have been always will be
Report abuse
ridiculous comment by byfield!! i am sure nicholls and grigg will be really chuffed to hear this……i would pack my bags now if i were them!!
Report abuse