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VETERAN defender Gary Liddle has written himself into the history books at Hartlepool United but has spoken on honestly about his recent injury and says he questioned his future in football.

The 35-year-old has suffered with a long standing achilles problem but in the last month, Pools have kept him out of action for the last month in an attempt to manage the pain.

When fit, Liddle’s name is one of the first on the team sheet and he made his return at the weekend coming on as a substitute and helping Pools comeback from two goals down to beat Harrogate Town 3-2.

The defender is well seasoned in the game clocking up 334 appearances in a Pools shirt as well as 677 appearances over the course of his career. Liddle has had to manage plenty of injuries in the twilight years of his career but he admits that the last month has taken it’s toll.

Liddle said: “It was a frustrating period. A problem that I’ve had with my achilles for a good while now which has come on a lot worse in the time before I was out.

“I’m still not completely over it but it’s just about managing it now.

“It doesn’t sound the most severe of injuries but it’s probably one of the worst I’ve had. It probably comes with age with what it is.

“It was a frustrating one. It got to the stage where I was turning up to play on a Saturday and probably not training again until Friday which, at my age, it was no good for me. I’m the type of person who likes to train in the build up to a game.

“To be still hobbling around on a Wednesday and Thursday and then roll out to training on a Friday and then put myself through a game on a Saturday, it was tough.

“We always knew with Buster that there was going to be a time where I was going to need to have a bit of time out after the Tranmere and Oldham games. It just become too much for me at the time. The decision was taken out of my hands really to have that time off.

“After the initial decision to take some time out, I was seeing a consultant and the decision was taken to have a couple of injections in the area which helped massively. Not in terms of movement, just day to day life.

“As I said, I was limping around for a good portion of the week so it took away that straight away which helped me massively in terms of playing with the kids and getting around the streets if you like.

“I’ve done a lot of work within that month. A lot of strengthening and work. I feel a lot better within myself and lot more comfortable within the achilles to get a few days training in the week and then come out on a Saturday.

“To be honest, it wasn’t just playing football. It was getting up on a Sunday morning and feeling the pain my achilles in the days that followed. My little boy was asking me to play football in the garden and I just couldn’t do it.

“When stuff like that happens, it comes into the thinking and you just think I can’t take it anymore. Is it worth it?

“But with medicine and technology these days, there’s always remedies to get around these things and thankfully I had the injection and within a couple of days, that helped me massively and I got my head around just getting myself right.

“Thankfully it’s gone part of the way to doing that. Like I said, it’s a lot of stuff I’ve got to keep on top of in terms of strengthening, in terms of recovery still.

“As long as I can train and still get out there on a Saturday, I’ll do that as much as I can. Hopefully that will be for the rest of the season now.”

Liddle is back in contention for their trip to Leyton Orient at the weekend and could play a part with centre-half Neill Byrne suspended for the game.

He got his first taste of football again at the weekend against Harrogate Town and, to no one’s surprise, admitted it was a tasted sweet to be back out on the pitch.

“I’ve missed it. I love playing football and love playing for this football club” Liddle added.

“I missed a good portion of last season and that hurt me massively so I was determined to not make that happen again.

“To finally get back out there after a frustrating month or so was massive. Once the adrenaline kicks in a game like that. I’ve played many games in my career and there’s not many times where I’ve come back from three down to win 3-2.

“When something like that happens especially at a place like the Vic in front of those fans, it’s a pretty special occasion. I probably got caught up in it a little bit.”