Whitehall and Graham fit
Manxman to join Latics on loan

AFTER spending nine months in the treatment room, Richard Graham is back In full training and ready to make up for lost time. The silky centre-half, whose career has been cursed by serious injuries, last played in December and managed only 15 starts in the whole of last season. His latest problem was a torn knee cartilage, an injury which struck when he twisted awkwardly during a match. Graham has since endured months of pain and is now desperate to prove that he is not only back but as good as ever. "It hasn't been the best of times," he said, taking the club's throne as King of Understatement. "The worst part is the boredom because there's so little you can do. "Being out for so long is also very frustrating. I'm here to play football and that's all I want to do. "You can build up the problem area and that should give you more strength. But, in the end, you have to say injuries are an occupational hazard. I hope this one's my last."

After what seemed like an endless daily routine of working in the gym, Graham began running again three weeks ago. He has just rejoined his team-mates back on the training pitch and, by regaining his sharpness in the reserves, aims to be ready for first-team action within a month. "The first game back will be nerve-wracking, no matter which team I'm in," he admitted. "I'll be worried about the knee standing up, but after the first tackle you feel better and just get on with it." Despite his injury jinx, and the fact that he is still only 24, Dewsbury-born Graham has already played over 150 games in Athletic colours. He joined the club as a trainee striker, but was soon converted into a midfield player. The move backwards continued when, thanks to his height. he was tried out as a defender.

Graham was playing Premiership football shortly after his 19th birthday and went on to become an England under-21 international. He has often changed positions to suit the needs of the team but said: "I've never looked back since being switched from playing up front. "I still prefer midfield because you tend to be more involved, but I've got used to playing centre-back and I enjoy it." Graham was Athletic's player of the year in his last full season and his value to the side has never been in doubt. His reading of the game is excellent. enabling him to head off opponents' attacks before they become a serious threat. In the utilitarian second division. that is as valuable an asset as his aerial power and deceptive pace. It has also seen him linked with moves to higher leagues but. for the moment, his sights are set on one thing only.

"First and foremost, I just want to start playing again," he said. "Nothing ever materialised from the talk of me moving and I would be happy to stay where I am. "I'm, in the last year of my contract, but I've already told the manager I would sign another. "I also owe a lot to the physio, Alex Moreno, who takes a very positive attitude and stops things getting you down when all you can do is plod along and wait to get fit again." Though uninformed rumours suggested Graham's career was in doubt, the likeable Yorkshire-man always knew he would return to boost Athletic's flagging fortunes. That day can't come fast enough for either player or team and. after so much misfortune it's bard to think of a footballer more deserving of a break - this time of the lucky kind.

MANXMAN to join Latics

ATHLETIC'S quest for new talent has taken them to the Isle of Man. Midfield player Nick Hurt will join them at the nd of September for a month's trial. The 22-year-old, who plays for Rick Holden's Peel side, was voted player of the tournament in he recent festival, which Athletic won. Hurt impressed Andy Ritchie, who now wants to take a closer took at the Manx international.

Innes ready for centre stage