RUFC – Pope only has praise for Liddell

Rotherham United striker, Tom Pope says that last season was the worst of his career.

Pope joined the Millers from Crewe last year and, after only seven games, was sidelined with an ankle injury for a month followed by another spell out with a back injury. Then, towards the end of the season Tom fractured his metatarsal which ruled him out of the trip to Wembley.

Speaking to David Beddows of The Advertiser the twenty-five year old said, ‘It`s been a poor season injury wise for me. I`ve done my ankle ligaments a couple of times but I`ve never been out for five months before. To get injured three or four weeks before Wembley was heart-breaking. It was hard but I have to say that Andy Liddell has been brilliant with me. Even on my days off he`s had me in and has driven from Leeds to take me running around Don Valley. He`s helped me get back to where I need to be and has been a major plus for me getting to this stage.`

Pope has had a couple of reserve games lately and came on as a late substitute on Saturday to get his first taste of fist team football since April.

Talking about the game, Tom said, ‘it was backs-against-the-wall stuff and it was impossible to get a foothold in the game and create anything and it would have been a lot nicer to come on with us comfortably leading.

‘But, having said that, it was great to be back in the squad and hopefully next time I`ll be coming on when we`ve got a three-nil lead rather than having blown a three-nil lead.`

Pope isn`t the only striker hoping for a come-back in the side as Ryan Taylor has now returned to training after he too fractured his metatarsal and Tom said, ‘Once everyone is fully fit, on paper, I think we`ve the best squad in the division and not just for this league but for the one above too.

‘There will be healthy competition once Tails is back and the gaffer will have some difficult decisions to make.`