Burnley attacker Luca Koleosho says he finds walking “boring” and hopes to return to running in two weeks after continuing his recovery from a knee injury in Miami.
Connecticut-born Koleosho scored his first goal for the Clarets against Sheffield United two matches before his last appearance against Wolves in December.
The 19-year-old, who signed from Espanyol for an initial £2.6 million in July, required an operation and has returned to Lancashire following weeks of warm weather training close to the Florida city’s beach.
Read our other sports news stories here:
Trafford will be ‘great’, predicts Kompany
Kompany targets ‘something special’
How does Kompany get Clarets back up?
“The change has been good but I was always looking forward to being back in Burnley,” said Koleosho, telling the club website that he had remained “really positive”.
“Most importantly, I was doing lots of hard work to help get me back to fitness. I’ve been restricted to exactly what I can do up to now because of the operation but I’m doing lots of lifting, pool work and field work – like sleds and mechanics – so I’m ready for when I can start to run.
“I want to start playing again but I’m also kind of calm. I’m just waiting for [rehabilitation staff] to give me the green light in the next couple of weeks to start running so I can get nearer to playing again. I’m not one for looking at timetables, though – they just cloud my head.”
Koleosho latest: Injury ‘frustrating’
Koleosho visited his family – including his physio mother, Melissa – during his time in the US.
“I’ve missed football massively,” he reflected. “I have to be so much more cautious about stuff right now.
“I can’t just run or jump. I can only walk – that’s just so boring. It’s so frustrating but it is what it is. I’m sure I’ll appreciate everything even more when I can get back to doing them.
“[I’ve been] working on getting stronger around my knee, in my hips and upper body. I’m keeping everything balanced and it feels good.”
View this post on Instagram
Team-mate Aaron Ramsey is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury he suffered against Arsenal in February.
“I messaged Rambo and spoke to him a bit after he got hurt,” said Koleosho. “I asked him if he was okay and stuff.
“I said ‘be ready for rehab with us.’ That’s going to be funny – every day is going to be just something else in that rehab room, I swear. He’s going to be my new gym buddy.”
Vincent Kompany’s side beat Brentford 2-1 at home for their first win in 11 matches on Saturday and are five points from safety with a vastly inferior goal difference to fourth-bottom Luton Town.
Last season’s Championship winners play the first of their final nine matches of the campaign when they visit Chelsea on March 30.
