BY PATRICK ROWE
Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba made his return to action yesterday after being sidelined for four months with a knee injury.
Nakamba, 28, had quickly become a favourite for Steven Gerrard upon his arrival as head coach at the club and started the first five games for the new boss, after he succeeded Dean Smith in November.
He operated as the anchor ahead of the back four and, whilst doing so, helped Villa secure impressive victories against Brighton,and Leicester City.
The Zimbabwean international then suffered a severe knee injury in the fixture against Liverpool on the 11th of December, which then required surgery to solve the issue.
The midfielder was out for a total of 17 weeks before making his return to the matchday squad against Tottenham Hotspur, and has since gone on to return to action as a late substitute versus Leicester City on Saturday.
Speaking to Villa TV, Nakamba commented on returning from his injury where he issued the following statement: “It was good to be back again with the boys, and I was happy to be back again on the pitch. I’m very positive about it.
We got a point with a clean sheet away from home, and I think we will now look up to the next match [Norwich City].
“We did well collectively as a group, and we just need to push ourselves and keep believing like the gaffer [Gerrard] is telling everyone. He is pushing everyone together as a team.
“First of all, it was frustrating to be injured and to be watching, but I was supporting the boys, I was there supporting them at the home games and a few away games, and I was also involved with everyone in the dressing room.
“I have felt the support of the last four months, while I was injured, everyone from inside the club, players, technical staff, everyone inside.
“We just have to push ourselves to keep believing and also to focus game by game.
“It’s Norwich next game at home with the fans behind us, we just need to stick together as a group and also with the fans that are believing in the players and supporting the players.
“We just have to keep on pushing ourselves.
“I was very pleased to be back and see the fans supporting us all the way from the start until the end.
“It’s good, and I think they always push every player like every time, whether we play home or away, the Villans are always loud.” – Birmingham Mail