Callum O’Hare of Coventry City has surmounted his first significant psychological obstacle after being “whacked” in training as he attempts to return to full fitness in the first team. Following the international break, the Sky Blues midfielder returned to full contact practises with the rest of Mark Robins’ side and already has the bruises to prove it.
O’Hare has been out since Boxing Day of last year due to a damaged anterior cruciate ligament that necessitated surgery. Now, nine months later, the 25-year-old is building up his workout routine in preparation for a return to full-time activity. Jamie Allen made his first senior appearance since his summer heart scare on Tuesday night at Cardiff, coming on as a second-half replacement despite not playing.
Robins plans to re-integrate him to the first team with minutes from the bench in the coming fixture schedule. So what’s the plan for O’Hare? Asked if he’ll get game time with the development squad before dipping back in from the bench, Robins said: “Callum’s a different kettle of fish. You’ll just have to bear with us on it because I’m not going to put a time frame on his return.
“He has to come back when he’s comfortable. There’s a lot of development, there’s a lot of elements that need to come together with Callum and I think it has to be on as much as our eyes and what we’re seeing. But you know, once he’s ticked all the boxes, once he’s done that then it is about just his confidence in games.”
