Hunter Appearance Aggravates Injury
23rd October 2005

Marty Hunter made a surprise appearance in midfield for Ards against Linfield on Saturday, given that all the talk was of him needing an operation on a recently re-surfaced knee injury.

Marty Hunter - requiring surgery

Hunter came out of a recent two-week playing gap with damage to some cartilage in his right knee that kept him out of the last couple of games and left him with the prospect of surgery to correct the problem.

"I have a cartilage problem in my right knee," explained Marty, "It's the same knee that had to undergo an operation on five years ago when I was at Glentoran - and that had me out for quite a while. After playing in recent games the knee began to swell up like a bap, quite severely - and it was that way for two days. It was also quite painful."

However that didn't stop Hunter from playing 85 minutes of yesterday's defeat to Linfield, heavily strapped up, and when he did come off close to the end visibly in pain, many were left wondering if it had all been worth it.

Such is the extent of the Ards injury problem at the moment though as boss George Neill annotates. "The injury problems do not ease, because Gordon Hillis has a knee problem. Mark Parker is trying to get over an ankle injury, and Brian Adair has neck damage. Seven of our 11 experienced players are either out or deemed doubtful. We have key players missing - Andy Waterworth, Kris Pike and Marty Hunter."

Forward Waterworth has been out for eight weeks since he damaged ankle ligaments by trying to complete a match against Limavady in August. He is now in training and running hard, but still finds himself in pain whenever he strikes a ball.

Andrew Waterworth - training hard

Kris Pike has missed the last six games since being carried off during the early September defeat to Linfield. Neill says he may too need surgery to correct knee ligament damage.

One player who is on the mend is goalkeeper David Henry, recovering from a broken hand sustained, wait for it, against Linfield. The big number 1 managed to finish that game despite his injury but hasn't played since, although he is now out of plaster and a few weeks away from starting proper training.

Not the kind of situation that Ards can really afford this season, with a small and youthful squad stretched to its limits in recent weeks. George Neill could really do with a break to help lift his side up off the foot of the table.

ardsfc.co.uk