Hartlepool United star Luke Charman makes vow after ending injury nightmare
Luke Charman made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in Hartlepool United’s 4-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United.
There were mixed emotions for Hartlepool United forward Luke Charman as he finally made his first appearance of the National League season in Saturday’s defeat at Scunthorpe United.
The former AFC Fylde and Rochdale forward missed the final two months of last season after picking up a serious ankle injury in a 4-3 win at Solihull Moors in February. Charman gradually worked his way back towards fitness and returned to action during Pools’ pre-season campaign - but was struck by injury once again when he was involved in a nasty collision with Grimsby Town goalkeeper Christy Pym during a friendly at Victoria Park just two weeks before the start of the league season.
The former Newcastle United academy product came off the bench to make his first competitive appearance of the season at Scunthorpe on Saturday - but was unable to help his side avoid a defeat that has left them in the National League relegation zone. Despite his obvious disappointment over a result that left him ‘absolutely gutted’, Charman was pleased to be back on the pitch as his injury nightmare came to an end.
He told BBC Radio Tees Sport: “How long has it been since my last competitive game? Solihull? It’s been a long time coming. Obviously, I’m absolutely gutted about the result and the results so far this season - but on a personal note, it’s a nice feeling to be back out there and doing what I enjoy doing. I remember the game really well, I came on, I did a couple of good runs and I probably got ahead of myself. Me jumping into silly tackles is something I’ve done many times and it will probably not be the last even though it should be. It’s a bad situation to be coming back into the team but at the same time I’m trying to look at it as positively as possible and I am just hoping I can help us start turning results around.”
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‘I understand the fans are impatient’
Charman gave an insight into the challenges he had faced as he undertook a painstaking recovery process and watched on as Pools have struggled to find form during the opening two months of the season. The versatile forward insisted he can ‘help in many ways’ as his side look to claw their way up the National League table and urged his team-mates to ‘knuckle down’ over the coming weeks.
He said: “Being out injured, it’s the absolute worst time for a footballer. Yes, you report to training every day but you spend a lot of time isolated, doing work in the gym and you’ve got to stay driven to do the work you need to do so when you do come back, you are ready to go. On the other hand, it’s tough to blame myself but I’ve been watching since the start of the season thinking I can help there, I can help there and we are not happy at all - but I’m looking at it from the angle of I’m back in now and let’s everyone knuckle down and pull ourselves through this because I feel I can help us in many ways.”
Your next Hartlepool United read: Hartlepool United's shambolic season continues after 4-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United