Stags’ midfielder Alex MacDonald has said he is ‘desperate’ to return from injury and help the amber and blue build on their excellent form in Sky Bet League Two.
The Stags have been mightily impressive of late, winning four out of their last five matches, and recently extended the unbeaten streak to 17 matches in Sky Bet League Two.
MacDonald last appeared for Mansfield away to Cambridge in late September, and since which has suffered from bone bruising in his knee.
The 28-year-old says that it has been ‘hard’ to watch from the sidelines in his period of absence.
“It [injury spell] is hard to put into words really,” he said. “It’s been the longest period of my career injured.
“It was hard at the start and it’s even harder now watching, as the lads are doing so well. I’m desperate to get back involved and seeing the lads playing as well as they have been doing, it’s frustrating being on the sidelines.
“I want to be out there with the lads helping [to build] on what has been a very good festive period.”
The midfielder also went into detail on what his day-to-day activities have consisted of during his spell on the sidelines.
“[I’ve been doing] quite a lot to be honest. I’m in earlier than most of the other lads,” he said. “We [injured players] are doing a lot of gym-based work.
“I’ve had to come off my knee completely for quite a long period of time because of the bone bruising.
“I’ve been [working] on my knee to hopefully get the leg strength up and be outside running again soon.”
“I want to be out there with the lads helping [to build] on what has been a very good festive period.”
MacDonald spoke of the timeline on his return, adding that he plans to be out running on grass next week.
“I hope to be back on the grass running in the early parts of next week, if not, later next week. That’ll be running.
“Then there’s a sort of mini-pre-season coming up for me. I spoke to Tom [Whittamore, head physiotherapist] this morning. It’s been 15 long, hard weeks that I’ve been injured for now.
“It’s time to get fit now and really motor on and hopefully help the lads in the back end of the season.”
