Pope pushes pain barrier

AFC Telford United captain Steve Pope has stepped up his recovery from a cruciate ligament operation with two weeks of intensive physiotherapy at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.

The 30-year-old centre-back had surgery at Birmingham Nuffield Hospital at the beginning of last month and is determined to force his way back into boss Rob Smith's side before the end of the season.

And he has checked himself into Lilleshall, one of the top destinations for sporting injuries in the country, in order to accelerate his progress.

The former Halesowen man has been putting in long hours with the physios to work on strengthening his knee and improving the flexibility on the long fight back to fitness.

"It's making me feel sick, it's that bad," he revealed. "I only had the operation four weeks ago - three or four years ago they used to stirrup the leg and when I had this done last time my leg was stirruped for eight weeks.

"Now it's four weeks on and they want full bend. It's horrible, it's no holiday that's for sure. They push you that hard but it's an exceptional place.

"I came here on Monday with 90 degrees bend and now it's 120 or 130 and that's a big difference in such a short period of time. It's hard work but I'm enjoying it."

Pope has found himself training with fellow cruciate ligament sufferers Garry Monk of Swansea and TNS's Jamie Wood since arriving at Lilleshall on Monday.

Brentford and Ghana striker Lloyd Owusu has also been at the Shropshire facility as he fights his way back to fitness.

"I got in from being in the PFA when I was at Crewe," PE teacher Pope added. "Once you've joined they will look after you throughout your career, even if you leave the pro game like me. You've got to use the system.

"They say I could be running in seven weeks and then it would just be about getting my fitness back.

"I'm hoping to come back to Lilleshall in the February half-term and by then I hope to be close to getting back playing."

Meanwhile, striker Steve Foster has learned that he will serve a three-game ban for his red card in last weekend's 4-0 win at Lincoln United.

The club's leading scorer will miss next Saturday's trip to Guiseley and games after that away at Marine and home to former club Radcliffe Borough.