Carayol not planning to rush his comeback

Gambia hopeful Mustapha Carayol is hoping tomorrow’s clash with Bradford City is the last he’ll have to watch from the stands for a while.

But Bristol Rovers’ talismanic winger says he’s grateful to new boss Mark McGhee for telling him to take as long as he needs to make a full recovery from the groin injury which has kept him out of the last three games.

“It happened in the FA Cup game against Aston Villa,” said Carayol. “Alan Hutton went to shoot, I tried to block it – but as I did, my foot slipped and I felt a little pull in my groin. I tried to carry on because I didn’t want to come off, but I could feel it tightening up and didn’t want to make it worse.”

“I think I’m still about a week away and the Bradford game will be a bit too soon for me. I’ve been doing some strengthening work, but with the pitches being heavy at the momentum, I have to be careful about going out there and making it worse.

“The gaffer had a word with me the other day and told me to take my time with it and make sure I’m 100 per cent when I do come back, rather than trying to be a superhero.”

Carayol’s injury came just as he was in probably his best run of form since he joined the club from Lincoln City over the summer. Not only had he scored three goals in nine games, but he had also become one of the side’s most potent attacking threats.

“I’ve been a bit unlucky in the past because whenever I’ve picked up an injury, it comes when I’ve been in form. This season has been probably the fittest I’ve ever felt, but I suppose it could have been worse,” said Carayol.

“I could have done something that might have kept me out for months, but it’s only been three weeks so far and, hopefully, I can be back soon and get my fitness and performance levels back quickly. I don’t think it’s too bad because I’ve been able to walk normally. With a groin injury, if it’s a serious one, you struggle to even do that.”

“The gaffer’s been ace with me – and I’ve seen the way he’s dealt with some of the other boys, and he’s told them the same thing. He’d rather have them 100 per cent than 75 per cent. If you try to come back too early, it could potentially go again – especially with the pitch at the Memorial Stadium the way it is.”

“And if you are not fully fit, then there’s the danger you could have a bad game and lose your place, so you want a fair crack of the whip. Hopefully, I’ll be back in full training next week and fully involved with the boys again. They are doing well anyway, so they don’t really need me at the moment!”

Somewhat ironically, Carayol’s absence has coincided with Rovers taking a seven-point haul from their last three games – two of them against sides in the top three. “It’s much better to come back into a side that’s doing well rather than one that’s struggling,” said Carayol.

“Eliot Richards is doing well out there at the moment, so I know I might have to bide my time to get back in – but, hopefully, it won’t be too long and I can then get a good run of games until the end of the season. When I do get my opportunity again, hopefully I can take it.”

“The gaffer has spoken to me about what he wants me to do and told me he wants me to carry the ball, which is what I do naturally anyway. I don’t think he’ll be wanting to change too much of my game.”