Hollands' Pompey return suffers blow

DANNY HOLLANDS is preparing for a Fratton Park return, albeit on crutches.
Danny Hollands will be back at Fratton Park but not playing. Picture: Joe PeplerDanny Hollands will be back at Fratton Park but not playing. Picture: Joe Pepler
Danny Hollands will be back at Fratton Park but not playing. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Crewe midfielder will join his team-mates on Saturday for the clash with Pompey.

However, a hamstring and tendon injury has ruled the former Blues man out of action.

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Hollands underwent an operation last Saturday, although retains hope of featuring again for the Railwaymen before the campaign’s end.

Regardless, he will make the trip from his Fontwell home to attend this weekend’s clash with the club he left this summer.

Hollands said: ‘Unfortunately for me, I had an operation last Saturday after basically a freak incident.

‘There were two bodies on the floor against Wycombe, I went to step over them to get the ball and, as I did, someone kicked my leg which made the knee jolt and overstretch.

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‘I felt it straight away and discovered I had a tear in my hamstring and tendon, requiring an operation.

‘It’s very much a weird one, usually a hamstring injury is caused by running.

‘My aim is getting a couple of games in before the end of the season.

‘I’ll be there Saturday, though. I’ve been down south since the operation and am currently on crutches, but will be coming to the game.

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‘I still have friends at the club like Conor Chaplin and Gaz Evans and still want them to do well.

‘Obviously not on Saturday – but the rest of the season!’

Hollands made 93 appearances and scored seven goals during his time at Fratton Park.

That included a hat-trick against Plymouth in May 2014, while initially on loan from Charlton.

His final appearance was in last season’s play-off second-leg semi-final defeat at Plymouth, a match in which he tore ligaments in his left ankle.

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Hollands remained at Fratton Park to recover from his injury and, with his contract having expired, joined Crewe in August.

He added: ‘I had a clause in my contract which entitled me to another 12 months, but was asked to remove that and they would still offer me something.

‘Then we had negotiations and I felt things were not fair towards myself.

‘It came to a point where I was never told I wouldn’t be offered anything, it was kind of people beating around the bush, so I took it upon myself that I had to go and get games elsewhere.

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‘There comes a point where you have to look after number one. It was up to me to move on, so I came to Crewe.

‘I went there to get games and that’s what I’ve done, which has been good. I needed to play matches after my ankle injury and it has been ideal.

‘The situation at Fratton Park was a bit of a mess, for whatever reason it didn’t work out, but they still helped me get back to fitness and I was able to train.

‘It really is a great club.’

– NEIL ALLEN