Scott Wootton says he’s beginning to feel like a footballer again as he steps up his recovery from a knee injury.
Wootton has been sidelined since August because of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament but there is light at the end of the tunnel for the defender, who is now working outside on the pitch and is on course to make a return to training in pre-season.
“Things are going really well,” Wootton told iFollow MK Dons. “I’ve been working hard through the summer and I’m really pleased with how things are going – I’m on course to be able to join in with the team in pre-season.
“Training outside makes you feel like a footballer again after spending months and months inside the treatment room and the gym. To now be outside putting my strength to the test is a wonderful feeling.
“You take it for granted sometimes so this will definitely make me appreciate all that for the rest of my career now.”
So what does a regular day entail for Wootton at this stage of his rehabilitation?
“I’m in from nine o’clock, most days and I’ll start with a bit of activation work. Then I’ll go out onto the grass with either Simon Crampton or Adam Ross, who will have a session planned which normally takes an hour and a half to two hours.
“Then I’ll be back in the gym continuing what I was doing before I could go outside, so it’s a really tough day, especially now I’m doing more fitness work to build me up for pre-season.”
He added: “I want to make sure I can not only work with the lads in pre-season but also be up there at the top of the group – I want to be in the best shape I can be in.”
Wootton will continue this programme throughout the offseason before re-integrating himself into training when his teammates return at the end of June.
Once that process is complete, it would be another step closer to a return to action for the 25-year-old, who isn’t hiding his excitement for the 2017/18 season.
“I’m just so desperate to get back playing and do well,” he said.
“Coming in the dressing room after games when you’ve won, there’s such a good buzz around the place but you don’t really feel part of it because you know you’ve not played your part – I’ve missed that badly and I can’t wait to be a part of that next season.
“I think everyone looks forward to the new season but there will be none more so than me this year.”
