Harrison Burrows opens up on Sheffield United frustration as fresh perspective emerges ahead of key run
Harrison Burrows missed a significant chunk of the season with a quad injury but has returned to the Sheffield United side recently - and opened up to The Star’s Danny Hall about what the time out taught him...
Harrison Burrows admits his early-season injury frustration has given him fresh perspective over his Sheffield United career as he and the Blades shape up for a mini-run of games that could tell us more about their promotion credentials. The left-back missed a chunk of time this term with a quad issue.
But he returned to the United side at Bristol City recently and played 90 minutes straight away, repeating that feat in every game since. It’s a departure from the usual drip-feeding of players returning from injury, perhaps highlighting the importance of the former Peterborough United man.
The quad setback, which first reared its head in pre-season before resurfacing after the regular Championship campaign began, was the first major injury issue of Burrows’ career.
And when asked if it had given him a new-found appreciation of being able to play football, he admitted: “One hundred per cent, yeah. Because when you're injured, you’re in the gym, doing your bits.
“Looking out the window and all the lads are training. You're not neglected in a way, because all the lads are so good. They're obviously asking every day how you are and stuff.
“But as a footballer, you just want to be out on the pitch playing football, which is all I've ever known, really. So that was a tough part. But like I said, all the people around the club were really helpful.”
Burrows utilised the services of a club-appointed psychologist to help him get through the worst of his injury time, with teammate Oliver Arblaster admitting that similar conversations played a part in his long recovery from an ACL injury that left him sidelined for 14 months.
But once the first whistle went at Ashton Gate, a switch was flicked. “When you're in the mindset of a game, you're just so focused on wanting to win the game,” he admitted.
“My body felt good, and I felt fit. Obviously, I had a really long rehab programme that I worked with, with the physios and stuff. That was getting my body ready for football matches, over a two or three-week period where I was training and getting up to match fitness.
“To get injured was tough to take, especially when I’d come back into pre-season feeling really good. I came back, felt good again and then got the same knock. So the start of the season was a bit of a blur.
“So now, I'm just playing my football. My body’s feeling good. And that’s what my focus is on now, winning games.”