Experienced right-back reflects on summer shoulder operation, early form and previews Saturday’s clash at Wycombe.
Having started his career with Ipswich Town way back in 2002, Lee Beevers has progressed a long way since his Portman Road scholar days.The wing-back has featured for five different Football League clubs, been capped at Under 21 level by Wales and, most recently, won promotion from the Conference Premier with ourselves.
However, despite achieving much and experiencing plenty over the past 12 years, Beevers has also endured his fair share of injuries.
One of the most persistent problems for the experienced right-back has been with his shoulder, which he first damaged whilst playing for Colchester United in 2009/10.
A recurrence of the problem has hindered Beevers’ progress since he joined us two years ago, but since a second operation on the troublesome shoulder five months ago, the right-back now feels as though he is back to full fitness.
He said: "[The shoulder] is something that has gone out of the back of my mind now. Over the last season, it was something that was always there.
“I had a little bit of a thought of not going in fully and holding my shoulder out a little bit knowing it could come out so easily. So having the operation has lifted me up.
“Once it's done and you're back to full strength, it's a great weight off your mind.”
Turning his focus to Saturday’s match at Adams Park, Beevers continued: “Going down there, it's always a hard place to go and get a result, but hopefully we can draw on last weekend's performance and come away with the three points again.”
Wycombe, who are managed by Gareth Ainsworth, escaped relegation in dramatic style last term – winning 3-0 at Torquay United on the final day, though it was our nervy 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers which ultimately preserved their Football League status.
“It would be nice if they tried to repay the favour and let us walk away with the three points, but I don't think it will be as easy as that somehow," he laughed.
“They've got to get on with the new season now. They'll obviously be trying to progress on what they did last year and try and improve – the same as we will be.”
On our upcoming home ‘double header’ against Morecambe and Carlisle United, the right-back added: "Any team coming down here, we like to think we're going to do well against them.
“We try and make [One Call Stadium] a hard place to come, so that any team that does come down here will find it difficult."
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