Danny Gabbidon was delighted to get through his comeback match for West Ham United last night but he had words of sympathy for defensive colleague James Collins.
The Wales duo were reunited at centre-back for last night's reserve-team outing away to Portsmouth, with the match played at the Westleigh Park home of FA Cup giantkillers Havant and Waterlooville. Gabbidon has been out with a groin injury since the Carling Cup tie against Everton on 12 December but got 76 minutes in the 1-0 win to show that he is on the way back to full fitness.
"It was nice to come back and play a full part," he said. "I was disappointed to get injured as I had just started to find my form in the team. These things happen but it was nice to get back out on the field. The boys played really well - I was impressed with a lot of the young lads. It was good to get a clean sheet and get a few minutes under my belt."
There was some concern before the game that recent wet weather on the south coast had affected the pitch and Gabbidon admitted the muddy conditions were a factor. He said: "It was a bit tricky. We knew the pitch wasn't going to be the best. When you haven't played for a few weeks you don't read things so well but as the game went on, I felt better. You just have to get on with it."
While the comebacks for Gabbidon and Craig Bellamy - playing his first game since 27 October after recovering from an abdominal problem - were real plus points, it was a miserable night for the third established Welsh international on view. Collins has been back in the first-team picture after overcoming his own groin troubles but suffered a knee injury when an opponent appeared to fall on his right leg in an innocuous collision. He left the ground on crutches and was to have scans for possible ligament damage.
"You are hoping everyone gets through the game and no one gets injured," said Gabbidon, who will know his compatriot will have had every hope of being involved in next week's top-flight visit of Liverpool. "I feel for James because he was playing really well up to then. He was a bit unlucky the guy fell on his knee and he has done something to it. Hopefully he can recover and get back as quick as possible. It is disappointing to see him get an injury."
Gabbidon may now find himself as the main rival for Matthew Upson and Anton Ferdinand in the next few weeks. Wisely, the 28-year-old is not getting carried away. "I am not going to say anything yet," he said. "I got through this game and we will see how my body reacts. Hopefully now I can keep improving, get stronger and stronger and get some games under my belt - I just want to try and stay available for the first team for the rest of the season now."