Mike Williamson is targeting getting more minutes under his belt to “get up to match speed” as he aims to emerge from the frustration of over a year out of action.
The experienced defender came through 45 minutes for the Under-23s in their defeat against West Ham last night, and admits he felt the effects of his lengthy absence.
Williamson’s last action was during his initial loan spell with Wolves in November of last year, but having joined in January, he suffered a troublesome tendon injury which ultimately required surgery.
“Physically I got through it and I'm feeling o-k,” he said of last night’s game.
“It was one of those where you feel like you've been out for a year!
“I've still got to get a few more minutes under my belt to feel like I'm getting up to match speed.
“It's a massive bonus, that was my target tonight, to come through it unscathed and I have done.
“It's never nice losing and I wanted to stay on, but for medical reasons it's best to build it up slowly and make sure I stay fit, which is the most important thing.
“Forty-five minutes was the plan to make sure I don't overreach.
“I think there might be an in-house game for more minutes and then we'll see where we go.
“I want to play as many minutes as I can and then it's up to the gaffer when he thinks I'm at the standard to get back in.”
Williamson is now confident the problems he has suffered over such a frustrating year are now solved and that he can be back to make the sort of impact seen during his loan spell at Molineux.
“I've had the operation and the problem's been solved so it's about building up my strength and fitness,” he said.
“We were all scratching our heads for a few months but we managed to get to the bottom of it.
“It's about moving forward now.
“It's been the toughest year of my career, it's been very hard.
“Injuries are the hardest thing mentally for anyone to get over.
“It's just about working hard now and getting stronger.”
Williamson is also well aware of recently-appointed Head Coach Paul Lambert, having worked with him at Wycombe.
“I've worked with Paul before, I know what he's about, high intensity, competing, that's what he wants to see.
“So it's about getting me up to that speed.
“I'm 100 per cent desperate to contribute.
“It's been an extremely frustrating time and I just want to get out there and play.”
