Nicky Maynard...long road to recovery

NICKY Maynard has launched his fightback after injury, but admits he has mentally ruled out playing for Cardiff City again this season.

The former West Ham striker is on crutches after having an operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee sustained against Millwall earlier this season but says: “I have come to terms with the injury mentally and am in a good place right now.

“I am feeling better day-by-day and know I will be back stronger than ever, probably next season.

“It’s going to be a slow process and I have effectively ruled out playing again this season. I’ve been told it will take between six months and nine months to regain fitness, while some people recover faster than others.


“Personally, it’s better for me to accept it’s over for me this season. If I recover faster than expected it will be a bonus.

“But I will follow the advice of the medical people and won’t try to rush. That’s when setbacks happen.

“There is no doubt I will be back playing for Cardiff City and will be stronger than before. That’s the goal I have set myself.”

Maynard, 25, was injured just after the hour during City’s 2-0 win at the Den.

He went off believing the injury would keep him out for two or three months at most and was devastated to learn he would miss the rest of this season.

“I realised immediately it was serious because I felt my knee had popped out,” said Maynard. “It hadn’t, but that’s what it felt like. The area around my knee was tender to touch.

“I went for scans and expected the doctors to say I would be out for a couple of months because I had strained some ligaments. I was ready for that.

“But when they saw the scan and it was clear I had torn the anterior cruciate ligament I was devastated. That was a blow. I just wanted to go home and not talk to anybody.

“I had just signed for Cardiff City. I felt I was playing better and better, certainly I felt fitter than I had for a while because I was playing regularly.

“But injuries are part of football. I have to get on with things and keep positive. I am in for treatment at the training ground every day and the lads keep me involved. The banter starts when we are all together and I am part of that.

“The gaffer (Malky Mackay) and the players have been great. There are times when I feel down because I’m not playing and it’s good to have an arm around you, but that happens at Cardiff City.

“By the time I am ready to play again I want Cardiff City to have already made sure of promotion or have already made sure of their place in the Premier League. With the talent we have here that is the aim – and I’ll certainly be ready to join the celebrations.

“I have suffered injuries before and had to endure sitting on the sidelines when my team is struggling for points. That’s not the case at Cardiff City.

“The players are doing a tremendous job and are showing they don’t need me. I am able to watch matches and enjoy the performances.”

Cheshire-born Maynard is a former Crewe, Bristol City and West Ham striker. The Bluebirds paid a £2.75m transfer fee – taking the total spent on Maynard to almost £6.5m by the Bluebirds, Bristol City and the Hammers.

He fired 32 goals in 52 League starts for Crewe and netted 45 goals for the Robins before signing for West Ham’s promotion drive.

Maynard will wish his Cardiff clubmates all the best when they head off from the Vale of Glamorgan training ground to their hotel in the Midlands where they will stay tonight before their match at the City Ground in Nottingham.

“Forest away is tough, it always is,” says Maynard. “Then we have home matches against Watford next Tuesday and then Burnley. It’s crucial we maintain our form at home. That will carry us a long way in the quest for promotion.

“The form at our stadium is going to be massive and Bluebirds fans can help us so much. They have been tremendous this season – and I’ll be joining them in cheering on the lads at home matches.”

Maynard left Premier League football under Sam Allardyce for a new football outlook with City manager Malky Mackay.

The arrival of Andy Carroll at West Ham signalled the end for Maynard and he says: “The gaffer explained his plans for the season in detail, told me how he wants the team to play and how I would fit into that.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision.”

Maynard signed just before the midnight deadline at the end of the transfer window and he says: “When Andy Carroll signed it was clear it was going to be a tough ask to be playing. The manager likes his big strikers and I clearly didn’t fit the bill.

“It was a case of sitting on the bench or even in the stands at West Ham or come out to Cardiff City and showcase my talents elsewhere.

“I am a striker who likes to play off a bigger man and Heidar Helguson plays that role really well. I enjoy the type of football City play compared to what I was used to at West Ham.

Maynard looked relaxed during a ‘Show Racism The Red Card’ afternoon he attended with Tommy Smith at Cardiff City Stadium.

“I’d love to be playing for Cardiff now, but I have to be patient and I won’t try to rush back to fitness,” he says.

“But, make no mistake, I am still intent on making a big impact for Cardiff.

“If that’s not over the final weeks of this season it would be great to make my mark for the Bluebirds at Premier level.”



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Good luck Nicky. Can't wait to see you play for us in the PL

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32060964/

Excellent read to hear he is taking this recovery step by step.. people will slate him for taking it easy no doubt but people need to realise he wants to play again but be ready and feel good

The lad has had some real shit luck with injuries during his career. Hopefully his luck will change with us in the premier league

I worked in Bristol for five years, and a mate of mine, a staunch Bristol City supporter idolised Maynard when he was there, and although I wouldn't admit it to him, I secretly admired Maynard as a player, and as you all know he was always a thorn in our side when we played the Wurzels.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day he would play for us, and now he has, I wish him all the best and a full recovery and look forward to seeing him again in a Bluebird shirt in the near future.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19644834

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

......its been a long week Nedd!

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

......its been a long week Nedd!

I know the feeling. My father-in-law's been taken to hospital tonight, so the week just got longer. Thank f**k I'm not back to work yet. Fingers crossed I can still go to Forest.

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

......its been a long week Nedd!

I know the feeling. My father-in-law's been taken to hospital tonight, so the week just got longer. Thank f**k I'm not back to work yet. Fingers crossed I can still go to Forest.

...had some of that lately so hope all OK. You need to go to Forest Nedd, its medicinal! Ohhhhhhh, Scabby, Scabby (repeat et al)......

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

......its been a long week Nedd!

Just say "Tollehered" Don't Tollehrate anything less!

Terrible injury for a real talent who wants to play for City. Can't wait to see him back and Ayatollahing (and yes, I know there's no such word). In fact, if someone does the Ayatollah at you, does that mean you have been Ayatollahed? If you've done multiple Ayatollahs during a game, is that known as Ayatollahering? Ayatollah Etiquette, that's what we need. I'm Ayatollahed out.

......its been a long week Nedd!

I know the feeling. My father-in-law's been taken to hospital tonight, so the week just got longer. Thank f**k I'm not back to work yet. Fingers crossed I can still go to Forest.

...had some of that lately so hope all OK. You need to go to Forest Nedd, its medicinal! Ohhhhhhh, Scabby, Scabby (repeat et al)......

Damn right and my son is fit to burst, he's so excited about it. We've got a full bus from Neath Port Talbot and we know most of the people on it, so it's got the makings of a blinder of a day. I've burnt 3 CDs for the occasion too, so we've got to go!

Good luck Nicky. Can't wait to see you play for us in the PL

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32060964/

Good luck to the lad, down this way, we have seen the way Ferrie Bodde went, genuinely hope that your boy has more luck.

Good luck Nicky. Can't wait to see you play for us in the PL

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32060964/

Good luck to the lad, down this way, we have seen the way Ferrie Bodde went, genuinely hope that your boy has more luck.

What happened to him? I haven't heard about him in a while.

Good luck Nicky. Can't wait to see you play for us in the PL

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32060964/

Good luck to the lad, down this way, we have seen the way Ferrie Bodde went, genuinely hope that your boy has more luck.

What happened to him? I haven't heard about him in a while.

Played 15 minutes against Port Talbot pre-season last year, had a few issues, then in a reserve game, the other knee went! One of the most exciting players I have personally seen playing for the Swans... A real shame, gone back to Holland now to try and start again but I doubt he will ever be the same player, as I said, I wish your lad the best of luck with his recovery.

(Just read the thread properly through, all the best with your father in-law as well)

Good luck Nicky. Can't wait to see you play for us in the PL

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32060964/

Good luck to the lad, down this way, we have seen the way Ferrie Bodde went, genuinely hope that your boy has more luck.

What happened to him? I haven't heard about him in a while.

Played 15 minutes against Port Talbot pre-season last year, had a few issues, then in a reserve game, the other knee went! One of the most exciting players I have personally seen playing for the Swans... A real shame, gone back to Holland now to try and start again but I doubt he will ever be the same player, as I said, I wish your lad the best of luck with his recovery.

(Just read the thread properly through, all the best with your father in-law as well)

Good luck Nicky. Can't wait to see you play for us in the PL

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32060964/

Good luck to the lad, down this way, we have seen the way Ferrie Bodde went, genuinely hope that your boy has more luck.

What happened to him? I haven't heard about him in a while.

Played 15 minutes against Port Talbot pre-season last year, had a few issues, then in a reserve game, the other knee went! One of the most exciting players I have personally seen playing for the Swans... A real shame, gone back to Holland now to try and start again but I doubt he will ever be the same player, as I said, I wish your lad the best of luck with his recovery.

(Just read the thread properly through, all the best with your father in-law as well)

You are just way too nice to be a Jack