Southend United midfielder Jay Smith is targeting a mid-September return for the Shrimpers despite undergoing more surgery in the next few days.
Jay Smith - facing another operation
The former Aston Villa trainee has been sidelined since February with a broken dislocation of the ankle but is convinced he will be back playing for the Blues in around six weeks time.
"Two weeks after the operation I'll be able to jog again but, after six weeks, I'm determined to be back playing," confirmed the 22-year-old.
"I did all of the running during pre-season and I'm still training now every day with the lads so I'm pretty sharp.
"It's not going to take me that long to get fit again once I've had the operation," the player added.
But Smith, who bagged four goals last season, is still waiting to discover the exact date of his visit to the Wellesley Hospital in Eastern Avenue, Southend.
Smith's surgeon has just returned from holiday and the former Villan is hoping the operation can be performed this week.
"If it's not then it will be the early part of next week but it's all quite annoying for me," added the attacking midfielder.
"I would have loved to have got it done before the start of August and then that would have given me more time to get back fit and help the rest of the lads but it hasn't been possible."
Published Thursday August 12, 2004
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