Saunders looks to next season

HALF of North's prolific towering strike force may not play this season. The Priaulx League champions received a boost this week when Simon Tostevin declared himself fit after a serious knee injury, but the news on his strike partner, AJ Saunders, is bleak as he struggles to recover from his knee injury.

Yesterday, the 23-year-old trust administrator rated his chances of playing again this season as 50:50.

'My mind is set on just getting back for next season and concentrating on that. There is a remote chance I could play, but I don't want to risk anything,' he said.

'North are struggling with injuries and I'm desperate to get back to help them out, but I don't want to cause any permanent damage to my knee.'

He has not played for the club yet this campaign.

'At first I was pretty gutted about missing the games, but I have missed so many now I have got used to it,' he admitted.

Saunders had a operation in London in September and had been undertaking some outdoor training with physio Mike Thomas when he received a setback.

'I woke up one morning in November and my knee had gone back to how it was after the operation,' he said.

He has just started going back to the gym.

'Some days it feels fine and some days I have a lot of pain - I have lost a lot of muscle in my quad.'

Saunders injured his knee in a Jackson match at the end of last season while he was coming back from another injury.

'I had it strapped for the Upton and took some painkillers and it was fine,' he said.

But in just his second pre-season training session the pain returned and he has not played since.

Weather permitting, his club North play St Martin's at Blanche Pierre Lane tomorrow afternoon.

Both sides appear to be battling with Sylvans for second place behind runaway leaders Bels.

But that match could well be a washout along with the Sylvans v. Bels clash at St Peter's and Rangers v. Vale Rec game at St Andrew's. All are due to kick off at 2pm.