Brown: Injury Comeback Proved Tough Test
Wes Brown admits the timing of his return from injury " wasn´t right" when he came in to replace the suspended Rio Ferdinand in January.
Brown, who had just recovered from an eight-month injury lay-off following knee surgery in May 2003, was thrust back into first team football with the charge of maintaining the record of the Premiership´s meanest defence.
It was a catch-22 situation for the 25-year-old defender, however; delighted to be back in the side, but aware that, as the title race began to gather momentum, his match sharpness was some way below the required level.
" The Gaffer put me back in and he believed I could still do it so I was really happy about that, but as it turned out the timing wasn´t exactly right for me," Wes told the summer Season Review Issue of United magazine.
" I knew I wasn´t 100 per cent, but all I could do was keep trying and working because the only way I was going to get fitter was by playing games."
A period of adjustment was inevitable for the recovering Manchester-born defender, and it took a mental strength acquired from two previous career-threatening injuries.
" I just kept on going and stayed focused and made sure I didn´t listen to everything that was being said about me. I had to hope that my game would improve the fitter I got."
The criticism levelled at Brown was in stark contrast to the preceding years of his United career, where praise was lavished upon him, most notably the manager ascribing the tag: " the best natural defender this club has had for years and years".
" When a young player comes through at United," Brown explains, " praise gets poured on you. It happens, that´s the way it works... But my injuries have always stopped me from achieving something. It´s always halted my progress for six months, eight months at a time.
" But you just have to keep your head up and believe in yourself and keep working. When I first came back I wasn´t happy with my form at all. I knew I was better than that, but, like I said, sometimes the timing isn´t quite right."
Brown´s performances did come good; a rock solid display against Arsenal at Highbury in the 1-1 League draw was just reward for his hard work and even led to calls for Brown to be included in England´s Euro 2004 squad. A summer of rest was seen as more beneficial.
And Brown says his motivation to get back to his best is a result of his love of the game and baby daughter Halle, now 18 months old.
" I want to do everything I can to win a game. I love football; I wouldn´t be there playing if I didn´t love it so much. I don´t think you lose that desire and will to win, it´s just that when you have been out so long your body has to catch up with what your mind is thinking.
" And during the time when I was getting a lot of criticism and the team wasn´t doing so well I think it would have been much harder for me if I was just sat at home on my own.
" But when you´ve got a beautiful daughter there to take care of, you don´t even think about it. Everyone who´s had a kid knows that it´s hard work, but it´s great - I really enjoy it."
With a summer´s rest, Brown will be able to have a clean run at a new season and, hopefully, a clean bill of health.
