Danske Bank Irish Premiership: Cliftonville v Ballymena United (tonight, Solitude, 7.45pm)
CLIFTONVILLE’S sidelined skipper Ryan Catney has vowed to play top level football again and is targetting the start of next season to make his long-awaited comeback.
Catney, who suffered an horrific double leg fracture against Crusaders on January 21 2017, was hoping to be back in the current campaign.
However, the midfielder was forced to undergo further surgery four months ago after the injury failed to heal – but he finally feels he’s making solid progress.
He meets with his consultant this afternoon and is hoping to be discharged from his care.
Catney has dismissed the sceptics who suggest he won’t get back to the levels he reached before suffering the injury.
“People are saying that it’s an awful long time to be out… but I’ll decide,” Catney said.
“If I can’t play the way I played before, then I’ll not do it but it’ll not be for the want of trying. People’s opinion that I’ll not get back, I don’t really take it on board, to be honest.
“I could have rolled over six months ago and said I’ve got the medals in the bag, that’ll do me. But it’s more for myself to get back.
“I’ve gone 15 months already, I’m not going to give up now because people are thinking he’s not going to get back to where he was or who he was. It’s a process.”
Catney’s eagerly awaited comeback was put on the long finger after he was told by medics last year the broken bones in his leg hadn’t knitted together as well as expected.
As a result, he was forced to go under the knife again – which entailed a bone graft from his hip and six screws placed in his leg.
“It’s four months post-operation so hopefully my consultant will discharge me,” he said.
“It’s totally different from the last time. There is hardly any pain there now. Hopefully the second operation has fixed the issue.”
Catney added: “It has been frustrating. I got back running the first time and I was thinking that’s one barrier down and then there was another barrier put up, having to get the second operation.
“I should've already been out there playing if I hadn’t had to go through the second operation. But, it is what it is, I’m not going to cry about it.
“As long as my leg is alright, that I’m not running or walking with a limp, that’s the main thing. But I feel much stronger now and am looking at pre-season to get back playing.”
The Reds host Ballymena United this evening in a league fixture but the club’s supporters are already counting down the days to their Irish Cup semi-final with Loughgall at the end of the month.
Joe Gormley notched his 25th goal of the season to topple Linfield in last week’s quarter-final tie.
Gormley and manager Barry Gray have endured some fierce criticism this season – but Catney has backed the pair.
“We’ve just been a bit inconsistent,” he said. “The players need to get to know Barry and Barry needs to get to know them, and that takes time.
“We were winning and then losing, but we’re trying to get a bit of run together now.
“Bringing ‘Janty’ [Barry Johnston, as coach] back into the fold was a good move… It’s like he’s never been away.
“He’s great in the changing room and he knows the club. I think the boys are starting to hit form now.
“And apparently Joe Gormley’s having a terrible season after hitting 25 goals! Ridiculous.
“I’m sick hearing people saying Joe’s having a bad season. He’s just a goal machine. If Joe misses 10 chances he’ll go back for an 11th. He’ll never hide. He’ll always put his head on the block every time.
“And I think Ruairi Harkin coming back from his knee injury has been a real bonus. You saw the pass for Joe’s goal against Linfield and that’s what we’ve been missing, a bit of flair. I’m delighted to see him back.”
