Ducks defender planning his comeback following surgery

BALLINAMALLARD defender Lee Warnock is planning his comeback just days after surgery.

The big centre-back went under the knife on Thursday to rectify a rather delicate health matter after suffering four days of excruciating pain.

But now that the problem has been sorted, Warnock, who has had a number of serious injuries during his career, has mapped out his recovery and is targeting a comeback sooner rather than later.

In recent weeks the defender, who joined Ballinamallard from Ardstraw, appeared to have nailed down a place in Harry McConkey’s starting 11 and he’s determined to come back better and stronger.

“Football wise I’m told it’ll probably be six weeks minimum before I can return,” he said.

“ I was a bit annoyed because I was actually starting to get a wee bit of form and get into the team.

“This last four weeks I had a good run and playing week in week out. And then this comes along.

“With me there’s always something. If it’s not the knee it’s something else to try and put me off.

“My own personal aim is to get back before Christmas.

“If I can get back before then I’ll be happy. Christmas is a busy time of the year and you sort of want to be involved.

“It’s a time of the year I like to be playing football and the very nature of that league is that the fixtures are coming thick and fast then.

“The other thing is, I might be needed. My aim is to be back as quick as possible because I am really, really enjoying it up there. To be back amongst those boys would even be good.”

Over that Christmas period the Mallards play Institute, Dergview and Queens in the Championship while there could also be the small matter of the North West Senior Cup Final in which the Ducks will face their old Castlederg adversaries.