Gabbidon pleased with progress

13 July 2009 15:00
Danny Gabbidon is confident he will be back to full fitness in time for the start of the 2009/10 campaign. The Wales international has recently returned to the first-team fold at Upton Park after 18 months on the sidelines. A complicated abdominal problem has kept the centre-half out of action since January 2008, but he appears to have finally shaken off that injury. He recently came through a low key run-out in a charity fixture in Cardiff, while he was also awarded 45 minutes for the Hammers in a friendly contest with Grays Athletic on Sunday. With no ill affects suffered in the wake of either game, Gabbidon is now hoping to step up his rehabilitation over the coming weeks and make a return to competitive action in the not too distant future. "I'm still a fair way off. After 18 months out you lose a lot of fitness because your body isn't used to playing, and doing all the different movements which come with playing," he told Sky Sports News. "I would say I have still got a fair way to go yet, but the 45 minutes I got here will do me the world of good and there is a lot more games now in pre-season so, hopefully, by the time the season comes round I will be in good shape and ready to go."

Source: SKY_Sports