Huge Portsmouth favourite makes clear injury statement after completing long-awaited return
Callum Lang completed his long-awaited comeback from injury during Pompey’s 3-1 win over Millwall on Saturday.
Callum Lang is adamant his hamstring issues are now behind him after undergoing surgery earlier in the season.
His introduction represented his first outing in more than three months after suffering a recurrence of the hamstring injury which kept him out for a significant period during the second half of last season against Norwich City in the second game of the campaign.
And the former Wigan Athletic man believes it is a decision which the Blues will reap the rewards from going forward as he looks to put his injury woes behind him.
Callum Lang lifts lid on hamstring injury
Speaking after his comeback in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Millwall, he said: It was really frustrating because when I signed, I hit the ground running after coming off the back of a really frustrating year at Wigan. Since I signed, I haven’t really looked back.
‘I think I owe a lot to everyone here and I just love playing here. The club really suits me, I’m enjoying my football and I want to be on the pitch as much as possible.
‘I’ve struggled with a few injuries since I’ve been here which has been frustrating because a lot of my career I like to say I’ve been a robust player. That’s just football and I’ve got to get my head around it and hopefully I can look after myself and stay on the pitch.
‘I thought I was going to get away with the surgery but in the end it was just the best decision to make sure that it’s solid now and fingers crossed no more problems.
‘It was the same hamstring, I think the third time it’s happened so that’s why the surgery was recommended. It was a tough few weeks at the start on and off the pitch.
I’d like to say I’m fully confident with it. It hurt after coming off the back of last season. I felt like I had a lot to prove with the injury last season so to do the same again it really hurt.
‘I’m just hungry to do more on the pitch and doing my job. From what I’ve been told, the risks are a lot lower with the surgery so it was a no-brainer for me because all I want to do is stay on the pitch and play football.
‘With the surgery I hope that helps me do that. If I didn’t take the surgery I would’ve been back a bit quicker but I think the risk came down with the surgery so fingers crossed.’
Callum Lang’s return plan
The popular forward was named on the bench before being introduced on 61 minutes to see out the final half an hour.
And despite completing his comeback, the 27-year-old has made it clear his minutes will still need to be managed as he works his way back to full fitness.
‘That was the plan, around 30 minutes,’ he added.
‘I’m not sure what it’ll look like heading on into the rest of the week, my minutes will probably need to be managed in the first week or two then they should hopefully let me get a few more.
‘It was a nice feeling, goosebumps to be fair. When you’re growing up as a kid wanting to play football that isn’t something you really think about. Coming on, it's one of the best feelings I’ve had in football.’