Scunthorpe midfielder Dave Syers has trained for the first time since sustaining a knee injury on the opening day of the season.
Syers was told he would miss the remainder of the 2014/15 campaign having suffered serious damage to his knee ligaments and hamstring against Swindon, but was able to participate in the Iron’s Tuesday morning training session.“We welcomed him back and it was really pleasing to see him on the training ground. It’s a fantastic boost for Dave,” said assistant manager Ned Kelly.
Kelly told of how a few of the squad joked about Syers’ return, calling him the ‘new signing’, but said everyone was happy to train alongside the midfielder.
Mark Robins’ number two was also quick to praise Peter Swann for his contributions towards Syers’ recovery.
He said: “The chairman has been good enough to refit the gymnasium and, over the last couple of months, Dave has taken the benefits from the new equipment.
"The new medical and sports science departments have also massively helped get him back involved.”
Syers is going to “find his legs over the next three or four weeks, having been out for such a lengthy period”, says Kelly. But this is something the coaching staff will monitor as to avoid other niggling injuries that can occur in these circumstances.
“He’s not football fit, but that will come over the next month or so. We’ll feed him in and out of training to match his needs moving forward,” said Kelly.
“We’ve got plenty of reserve games in the forthcoming weeks so he’ll get involved for periods of time, eventually building up to a full game.”
Syers may have sustained his injury prior to Mark Robins and Kelly’s arrival, but this will not affect his chances in terms of first team football, says Kelly.
“We know what type of player he is; it’s not as though he’s a youngster coming through to the first team," he said.
"Dave is a seasoned pro who has played many excellent games, so he hasn’t got to prove that.”