Bolton Wanderers defender Harry Brockbank has revealed that he is hopeful that it will not be long until he is able to return to action for the club, following a long spell on the sidelines through injury.

The 21-year-old hasn't featured for the Trotters since the start of September due to a thigh problem, but it seems as though the defender is now desperate to be back out on the pitch again.

Speaking about his time out with injury, Brockbank was quoted by The Bolton News as saying: “I can’t wait to be back playing. I can’t say how much I have missed it.

“You don’t appreciate football when you are playing it. Hopefully, it won’t be too long until I am back again.”

Brockbank, who is now back in training having suffered a setback in his rehabilitation in October, went onto explain how badly he took that second blow to his fitness, as he continued: “At first I was annoyed but I understand these things happen in football but the second time, when I did it again, my head ‘fell off’ for a couple of weeks.

“The gaffer was really good with me and let me go away, which helped me out a lot.

“Now I want to get back to playing. You have to keep a strong mindset. If you go in sulking every day it doesn’t get you anywhere. Come in with a positive mindset, you get back quicker.” 

Prior to his injury, Brockbank had made seven appearances in all competitions for Wanderers at the start of the campaign, even becoming one of Bolton's youngest ever captains when he wore the armband for the club in the absence of a number of senior players at the start of the season.

The Verdict

This should be a big boost for Bolton.

The club haven't exactly been blessed with options to rotate this season given the situation they found themselves in, something that hasn't been helped by the sheer number of injuries they seem to have been faced with.

Getting someone such as Brockbank back will therefore at least offer them some relief in defence, which could be welcome with the number of fixtures that look to be piling up on the club at the minute.

For Brockbank as well this is understandably a big relief following so long out, and it will be interesting to see just how quickly he is able to force his way back into the Wanderers side once he does complete his return to fitness.