Aidy eyeing first team action - Academy product back involved following injury nightmare
leedsunited.com 21/4/15
Aidy White is hoping to force his way back into the first-team reckoning before the end of the season after making his long-awaited comeback from injury for United’s Under-21s.
As pre-planned, Aidy completed the first half of Monday’s 4-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town at Thorp Arch, occupying roles on either flank and seeing plenty of the ball as he helped his side to victory.
It was the 23-year-old’s first appearance in a United shirt since the pre-season draw at Chesterfield last July, a game which saw him stretchered off with a second-half ankle injury.
The Thorp Arch graduate’s long road to recovery has been a frustrating one, with numerous setbacks putting his return on hold prior to last week’s long-awaited resumption of full training.
After featuring for the U21s, Aidy said: "It felt great. I just wanted to get back playing as quick as I could.
"It’s been a while, I think July was my last game but I’m finally back and looking forward to the last games – I’ll try and get involved with them."
The versatile left-footer came through the game unscathed and his performance came in for praise from onlooking head coach Neil Redfearn.
“I feel brilliant,” said Aidy. “It’s been a while since I last played so I was a bit more tired than usual but I felt great.
"I felt sharp, I had a good week’s training and I’m ready to be back involved.
"There were no problems at all. Because I haven’t played in so long, 45 minutes was always the plan to get a blow-out and then put my feet up on Tuesday for a cool down and then get back training on Thursday.
"Redders picks the team so all I can do is my best and show him what I can do.
"He knows what I can do already because he’s been here for so long and he knows me well.
"Hopefully now, he’ll give me shot in the last couple of games to go."
Redfearn welcomed White’s return to action and is also optimistic of seeing him involved at some point during the final two games of the Championship campaign.
“It was good to see Aidy White back,” said the head coach. “I thought he played with purpose and pace; he went past people.
“He had 45 minutes, which is probably about right with the amount of time he’s been out.
“You wouldn’t have known he’d been out for so long. I thought he played really well.
“He gives you that pace and drive in wide areas. He’s got good feet to go past people.
“If he could feature before the end of the season, that would be good.
“He’s something different to what we’ve got. He’s a genuine wide player with pace that always frightens defenders.
“He’s an experienced first-team player and it’s good to have him back.”
White’s comeback trail proved to be lengthier than first expected, prompting him into an operation around the turn of the year in a bid to speed things up.
"It’s been a nightmare really," he said. "It was something so simple, the injury, but it just didn’t heal properly.
"It got to Christmas and I thought it was time to get something sorted. I had the operation and ever since then it’s been brilliant.
"I’m just looking forward to getting cracking again.
"I don’t think I’ll be starting a game, first-team wise, but I’d like to be involved for the weekend.
"Under-21s games are great for fitness but I want to be back involved with the first team now."
On the support he has received during his comeback, Aidy added: "They've been brilliant, all the physios, staff and players have always kept an eye out for me and guided be through it.
"It is frustrating. You have your ups and downs when you’re injured – mainly downs – but you’ve got to keep your head and carry on with it."
Aidy White is hoping to force his way back into the first-team reckoning before the end of the season after making his long-awaited comeback from injury for United’s Under-21s.
As pre-planned, Aidy completed the first half of Monday’s 4-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town at Thorp Arch, occupying roles on either flank and seeing plenty of the ball as he helped his side to victory.
It was the 23-year-old’s first appearance in a United shirt since the pre-season draw at Chesterfield last July, a game which saw him stretchered off with a second-half ankle injury.
The Thorp Arch graduate’s long road to recovery has been a frustrating one, with numerous setbacks putting his return on hold prior to last week’s long-awaited resumption of full training.
After featuring for the U21s, Aidy said: "It felt great. I just wanted to get back playing as quick as I could.
"It’s been a while, I think July was my last game but I’m finally back and looking forward to the last games – I’ll try and get involved with them."
The versatile left-footer came through the game unscathed and his performance came in for praise from onlooking head coach Neil Redfearn.
“I feel brilliant,” said Aidy. “It’s been a while since I last played so I was a bit more tired than usual but I felt great.
"I felt sharp, I had a good week’s training and I’m ready to be back involved.
"There were no problems at all. Because I haven’t played in so long, 45 minutes was always the plan to get a blow-out and then put my feet up on Tuesday for a cool down and then get back training on Thursday.
"Redders picks the team so all I can do is my best and show him what I can do.
"He knows what I can do already because he’s been here for so long and he knows me well.
"Hopefully now, he’ll give me shot in the last couple of games to go."
Redfearn welcomed White’s return to action and is also optimistic of seeing him involved at some point during the final two games of the Championship campaign.
“It was good to see Aidy White back,” said the head coach. “I thought he played with purpose and pace; he went past people.
“He had 45 minutes, which is probably about right with the amount of time he’s been out.
“You wouldn’t have known he’d been out for so long. I thought he played really well.
“He gives you that pace and drive in wide areas. He’s got good feet to go past people.
“If he could feature before the end of the season, that would be good.
“He’s something different to what we’ve got. He’s a genuine wide player with pace that always frightens defenders.
“He’s an experienced first-team player and it’s good to have him back.”
White’s comeback trail proved to be lengthier than first expected, prompting him into an operation around the turn of the year in a bid to speed things up.
"It’s been a nightmare really," he said. "It was something so simple, the injury, but it just didn’t heal properly.
"It got to Christmas and I thought it was time to get something sorted. I had the operation and ever since then it’s been brilliant.
"I’m just looking forward to getting cracking again.
"I don’t think I’ll be starting a game, first-team wise, but I’d like to be involved for the weekend.
"Under-21s games are great for fitness but I want to be back involved with the first team now."
On the support he has received during his comeback, Aidy added: "They've been brilliant, all the physios, staff and players have always kept an eye out for me and guided be through it.
"It is frustrating. You have your ups and downs when you’re injured – mainly downs – but you’ve got to keep your head and carry on with it."