Brown close to return (From The Northern Echo)

Brown close to return

9:58am Friday 5th February 2010 in

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JAMES Brown next week returns to training with Hartlepool United, but the forward won’t be rushed back.

Despite Pools struggling in his absence - they have won just twice in 12 games he has missed since suffering a knee injury against Southampton in November - there’s no pressure on Brown to return.

After missing the majority of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, Brown recently suffered cartilage damage and underwent further knee surgery on December 2 With no game for a fortnight after tomorrow’s meeting with Leeds, a spot on the bench for the home encounter with Huddersfield on February 20 is a possibility, although the trip to Millwall the following week is more likely.

“It’s got to be a situation where James is 100 per cent ready,’’ insisted Chris Turner.

“The boy’s career is more important than games, he has to come back when he’s physically and mentally ready.”

He added: “He will be back in training next week, but he’s still a little way from training.

“He won’t be rushed back too early and risk any more damage as we have to take care of him.

“His career is much more important in the big picture and we need to ensure he comes back at the right time.’’ After losing at league leaders Norwich last weekend, it’s second-placed Leeds tomorrow, before play-off chasers Huddersfield and Millwall follow.

“They’re all big games this month,” said Turner.

“As we’ve said many time before we’re playing all the top teams in the league and it’s a very unprecedented fixture list for us in terms of the opposition we’re playing.

“We’ve got to make it a cuptie atmosphere on Saturday, be in their faces and do what we’ve done in the last four games. But if we put away the silly mistakes and put the chances away we’ll get the right result. We’re so close to getting results and then making mistakes that no-one can legislate for it has affected us getting a point.”

Tomorrow’s game is allticket, none will be sold after the ticket office closes at 5pm tonight.