When Brighton and Hove Albion defender Tommy Elphick was stretchered off on the final day of the 2010/2011 season, it was a shock to Seagulls fans to hear that the centre back had ruptured his Achilles tendon; the same injury as former England captain David Beckham suffered while on loan at AC Milan.
Achilles ruptures are most commonly seen among sportsmen in the latter end of their career, and so while unfortunate for the 34 year old Beckham, it wasn't a freak injury.
However, it was certainly an unusual injury for the 23 year old to pick up at this stage in his career.
“It's a real awkward injury – not really one you see at my age, but it has happened and it's a slow one, but it's coming along nicely, so not too long now”, Elphick told me back in September.
Unfortunately for the defender, who was awarded Brighton's player of the 2007/2008 season, a bad reaction to the initial surgery means he'll be out of action for the rest of the campaign in Albion's return to the Championship. Another slice of poor fortune for the Brighton born player, who was devastated to miss out on the club's first ever match at the £93 million American Express Community Stadium.
“That was the hardest thing for me, seeing the lads run out against Tottenham and Doncaster in the first few games. I was really gutted that I wasn't involved. It's not so bad if you haven't been picked through form because you've got someone to blame like yourself. But there's no rhyme or reason for the injury I've got and it was just really hard to swallow.”
But despite the latest setback, it's hard not to be impressed by his attitude and focus on getting fit.
His weekends are now spent watching sport, and when I join him once again early on a Saturday afternoon, he's flicking between the horse racing and the Championship match between Leicester City and Portsmouth.
He's knowledgeable and chatty, always more than happy to discuss his beloved Liverpool, and he welcomes the news that Blackburn have taken a shock 2-0 lead at bitter rivals Manchester United.
While he loves watching the Premier League, the Championship is his focus, observing players that he may come against next season (if Albion stay in the division), and that's a big part of his recovery.
“You have to maximise your time when you're out injured; do everything you can physically as well as stimulating the brain, watching as many games as you can. So at the moment I'll be watching Gordon and Dunky [Gordon Greer and Lewis Dunk – Brighton's current centre back pairing], seeing what they're doing and what they're not doing, and then you watch the strikers that you'll be playing against next season. So there's no excuse for not knowing who you'll be playing against.”
Elphick's mature approach to his injury is even more impressive considering the delay to his comeback. He was initially set to return to action by the end of last year, but an allergic reaction to the stitching used in the original surgery meant he required a second operation.
“It was a case of going out there and being opened up again, and just clearing everything out and doing it with a different material which dissolves over time. That's how it should have been done in the first place but it wasn't and I'm lucky enough to be in really good hands this time.”
Extremely good hands in fact: the hands of Finnish surgeon Sakari Orava who operated on David Beckham back in 2010, as well as double Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie and French World Cup winner Didier Deschamps.
With Elphick suffering no ill effects from the surgery last month, he can now concentrate fully on getting fit. While his Albion team-mates look to consolidate their place in the Championship over the next few months (or even better: achieve promotion to the Premiership), Tommy will be preparing for next season. In February he is set to continue his recovery at Lilleshall Sports Rehab unit in Shropshire, where he'll stay for four weeks, before returning to Brighton where he hopes to return to his maximum pace and strength.
Elphick's contract at Albion expires at the end of the year, but he's in talks with the club at the moment, and he's keen to put pen to paper.
“The manager and the chairman have been really good to me. I can't really comment on how long we're talking but it's all work in progress at the moment.”
Assuming there are no hitches with the contract negotiations, Elphick will be available to fight for his place in Gus Poyet's side next season. But for now he's concentrating on Albion's performance this year, as every win, loss or draw can affect what league he'll be playing football in when he returns.
The Seagulls have had a mixed first half to the campaign, topping the table after six unbeaten matches, but then slipping to 11th after a winless run which lasted nine matches. But Elphick is quick to dispute my claim that it's been an up and down season so far.
“I don't think it's been up and down, I think it's very much been up. 18 months ago, if you'd have said where we are now; it's unbelievable the work the gaffer and his staff have done.”
Two years ago, Albion were in serious danger of dropping into League Two: the fourth tier of English football. But now, they're just four points from the play-off places in a largely unpredictable division.
“We're in with a massive shout for the play-offs still. I think we're just one or two (players) away from being a solid top six side. But then we've had major injuries this year; I think once we get everyone back fit, plus if the gaffer decides to add in January, then watch out. How far we've come is magnificent.”
Elphick's optimism about the future of the club is justified, considering the progress made under the stewardship of Poyet, who moved down to the south coast in November 2009.
So it's a big unknown what the next campaign will bring for Elphick. Perhaps he'll be playing Premier League football. For now though, after a missing a full season, his aim is purely to be playing football again.
