Colchester United target Michael Folivi vows to return stronger

The 23-year-old had been all set to sign a new contract with the U’s last week, having played his part in helping them stay in League Two, last season.

But a day before he was due to put pen to paper on a deal at Colchester, the young forward suffered an Achilles tendon injury while taking part in pre-season running which resulted in him having to undergo surgery.

Folivi is now in a cast and is set to miss the start of the new League Two season which kicks off on August 7, with a deal for him to return to the U’s now on hold.

It is rotten luck for the likeable former Watford and AFC Wimbledon striker – but he is determined to bounce back from the setback and come back even stronger, hopefully with Colchester.

Folivi said: “I had everything agreed, all of the paperwork, everything and I was flying, to be fair.

“I was in the best shape of my life.

“I went back to London and I was doing some off-season work with some players.

“While I was running, I pushed off my left Achilles and I turned around thinking someone had kicked me and no-one was there.

“I couldn’t walk or put any pressure on it – I knew that I had something bad.

“My leg started swelling up and I was in A and E for eight hours.

“I was absolutely distraught and in tears, to be fair.

“It was a freak injury, off the ball.

“It was just the way I planted and it literally could happen to anyone.

“But I was meant to be signing the deal the next day and mentally, it’s killed me.

“It’s the worst timing in the world.

“Hayden (Mullins) was really upset for me – they all are, to be fair.

“They’ve all sent me messages and their best wishes and the surgery was done quite quickly.

“I was proper upset and I’ve been in a dark place since but I’ve had five minutes of feeling sorry for myself and I’m a tough character and I’ll come back fitter and stronger from this.”

Folivi’s left leg is now in a cast which is due to be taken off in two weeks.

His protective boot will then be removed around two or three weeks after that, which will then lead to rehabilitation.

Folivi has been told by Colchester that he will be able to return to their Florence Park training ground in Tiptree and train with the rest of the group, once he reaches that stage in his comeback.

“I know it was a tough position that they were in,” said Folivi, who scored six goals in 13 starts for Colchester after joining them, last November.

“The way it is for now is that when I’m able to go back fit and strong and healthy, I’ll be able to join the group and try and earn my contract again.

“Right now though, it’s a tough position for them to sign someone injured.

“I want to go back and prove that I’m still the same player.

“Hopefully I did enough last season to show that and there’ll be nothing to stop me signing again – that’s the aim.

“I’m committed to my rehab now and getting back 100 per cent.

“I’ve just got to keep positive.

“Whatever my future holds, I have to come back as strong as possible but ideally, I want to come back to Colchester.

“I’ve got a good bond with all of the boys and I’m still in dialogue with everyone.

“Being back at the training ground was cool and I could feel positive vibes.”

Folivi says he will be tracking Colchester’s progress closely, while he is on the road to recovery.

“I will be supporting and I might have to get myself a Colchester shirt,” added Folivi, who missed only one game due to injury, last season.

“They’ve said I’ll be able to go back in with the group and train once fit and I have to repay them with my work, off the ball and then hopefully, come back the same player and score some goals.

“They’ve been really good to me.

“I’ve got a good relationship with them and being told that I can go was good to hear.

“I want to come back stronger and to be scoring goals somewhere but ideally, I want that to be at Colchester.

“It was such a good end to the season for me and I had some great dialogue with the fans.

“A lot of them were getting in touch and it was literally one more day until I could reply to them.

“I saw their messages and I wasn’t ignoring them – I was literally just waiting until it was over the line.

“Colchester is close to my heart, with the project that’s going on now and the manager and the club.

“I felt like it was home for me and it’s a hard one to take but I haven’t got time to be emotional about it or feel sorry for myself – I’ve got to get on with it.

“It’s small steps – I’ve got 50 per cent of it out of the way with the operation being a great success.

“After that, it’ll be walking and then kicking and then going back to scoring goals.

“Last season, I felt like I got the scoring feeling back and that’s my biggest motivation, right now.

“I want to return to that and it’s a big thing to work towards.”