Ghanaian forward Michael Folivi making progress to return from injury

Ghanaian forward Michael Folivi is close to making a full return to fitness after sustaining Achilles tendon injury last season.

The 23-year-old has been out of action for about ten weeks after picking an injury while on pre-season training with former club Colchester United.

The enterprising attacker is currently a free agent after the expiration of his contract with the English League Two club last season.

He was due to sign a fresh contract with the club before he sustained an injury.

But after undergoing surgery back in June, the 23-year-old is making good progress with his rehabilitation.

The former Watford youngster is now out of his protective boot and insists he feels in his best shape, since the injury.

Folivi said: “It’s the best I’ve felt since it happened and I’m feeling really well.

“The next thing for me will be running now.

“I’ve been breaking it down into stages and it’s really coming along well.

“I came out of the cast, then out of the boot and now I’m walking, so you just take small steps.

“You have to be careful that you don’t too much time in the gym and overwork it; I don’t want to overdo it but the people who come back quickest are the people who work the hardest.

“I don’t want to jinx it and one thing they do say with this injury is that they don’t put a timescale on it.

“But how I’m going, I’m ten weeks tomorrow and I’m closer to three months than I am to two months.

“These injuries are normally between four to seven months, so you do have ups and downs with these injuries but anything I can take as a positive, I will.

“I’m only going to come back stronger and I’m feeling well and feeling sharp.”

Folivi scored six goals in 13 starts for Colchester after joining them, last November.

The ex-AFC Wimbledon striker says he is determined to return a stronger player from the injury.

“I’m not going to lose my ability and I’m just going to come back more powerful,” said Folivi, who progressed into the senior ranks at Watford during Mullins’ time as an academy coach at Vicarage Road.

“Now I’m getting strength back, I’m appreciating even the small things a lot more.

“Being able to walk now and feeling stronger, it means I can now progress to the next part of my rehab.

“Small things like that, I’m actually buzzing about.

“When you’re out for a longer term, you look at short things, you look at long things and you have to get up every day and motivate yourself – everything happens for a reason.”

Folivi says the support of his friends and family has been invaluable since he suffered the injury and the forward also revealed that Colchester have been keeping an eye on how his rehabilitation is progressing.

He added: “They have been checking up on me and asking how I’m getting on and that goes a long way.

“I’m being treated like a king by my family while I’ve been out injured – I’m getting everything brought to me and I’m being asked if I want extra portions!

“As I’ve said before, I’m very lucky that I have such good people and such a positive, lovely bunch around me and I really appreciate them and what they do.”