Summer of hard work for Shuker after injury

May 9 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

CHRIS SHUKER plans to follow the “worst season of my career” with a summer schedule that will be as much about work as a rest and play.

The Tranmere winger’s career-long history of good fortune in avoiding injuries ran out in the 2007-08 campaign.

Hampered by a deep-seated thigh problem in the early weeks of the season, Shuker was put out of action for the best part of three months after suffering knee damage from a clattering challenge in a Boxing Day game against Carlisle.

The only saving grace for the 25-year-old from Huyton was that the knee problem, originally suspected to be cruciate ligament damage, turned out to be less serious.

Even so, a season’s tally of 26 appearances was still way below par for the talented wide man who was never lost his boyish enthusiasm for the game.

Shuker admitted: “Personally I’m glad this season has ended because it’s been an absolute nightmare. Now it’s over it’s a relief.

“I’d not had a serious injury in 10 years playing the game until this season and getting through the last few months has been a mental barrier as well as a physical one.

“One of the hardest things for me, coming back in the last few weeks of the season, was going into tackles. I was a bit wary because strength-wise I’m still not 100%.”

Regaining that strength and sharpness will be Shuker’s priority during the summer.

He said: “I played 50-odd games a season over the four years prior to this one – and then I would rest for the whole summer afterwards. This year will be different. I’ll have three weeks rest now to allow the knee to settle down. Then I’m going to do some leg strengthening and come back to the club to do fitness work with (physio) Les Parry.

“I want to be ready for when the pre-season work begins in July and I want to be back to my best when the new season starts.

“Hopefully by getting physically stronger for next season I will be mentally stronger too.”

The long-term absence of Shuker and left-wing partner Steve Davies took its toll on Tranmere’s form over the League One campaign. A promotion challenge that started brightly when both were on the side lost momentum after Davies was sidelined for six months with cruciate ligament damage and Shuker’s injuries began to bite.

Shuker said: “I think we had a good season considering the time Davo and myself spent out of the side. For the lads to keep pushing for the play-offs until there were only three games to go was a decent achievement.”

Tranmere are not optimistic about keeping Davies at Prenton Park.

The 20-year-old prospect is out of contract this summer and having so far turned down Rovers’ offers of a new deal, is attracting the interest of larger clubs.

There could be further squad upheaval during the summer because Davies is one of six senior players out of contract while a number of younger professionals are waiting to hear if they will be offered new terms by the club.

Manager Ronnie Moore and assistant Peter Shirtliff also wait to hear if Rovers will offer them new terms for next season.

Even so, Shuker, whose contract has another year to run, remains optimistic about the next campaign.

He said: “Ronnie Moore brought a lot of new players to the club when he came in as manager two years ago. He made a couple of changes last summer and he still has the basis of a stable squad. He knows what we have missed and what we need. I am sure he will bring in the right people to make a strong next year.”