Joe Riley's injury advice to stricken Junior Brown
Joe Riley is happy to offer advice to Shrewsbury injury victim Junior Brown as he continues on the road to recovery.
Right-back Riley has endured his share of lengthy injury lay-offs, both with Bolton and Town.
Brown, 28, injured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Fleetwood last month, sidelining the popular left-sided defender for the rest of the season.
Former Bolton trainee Riley suffered the same injury in the summer of 2013 and missed the whole campaign for the Trotters.
“Junior has been picking my brains just now a little bit,” admitted Riley. “Obviously I’ve said to him that if he needs anything I am always there to try and give him a bit of advice.”
Riley has struggled with injuries since he joined from Bury in summer 2016.
He took a knock just a couple of training sessions into Paul Hurst’s reign in October last year.
And Riley was forced into rehab for the whole of last summer after breaking his fibula and damaging ankle ligaments.
The 26-year-old is used to working with respected Town physio Chris Skitt and has backed Skitt to return Brown to the form he showed in the opening months of the season.
Riley added: “It seems to me like he’s doing really well and he’s got a fantastic physio in Skitty. I’m sure he’ll come back fit and raring to go like he was before.
“Hopefully I’m an example to him, yes.
“I’d like to think I’ve come back strong. The injury that Junior has suffered does take a bit of time and patience.
“Years ago it was probably a career-threatening one but now with surgeons and medical staff it won’t be.”
After finding himself behind James Bolton earlier this season in the right-back pecking order, Riley is enjoying a run in Hurst’s first-team.
In just 10 appearances for Town this season, Riley has already scored twice – two memorable strikes at Coventry and Doncaster – already his best return for a single campaign.
He added: “I’ve experienced being out this season, at the minute I’ve got the shirt.
“No matter what goes on this season, as long as it’s a successful one, that’s all that matters.
“I feel fully fit after playing the last few, I’m raring to go.
“After the injuries that I’ve had, I’d like to try and stay injury-free now.”
