Edwards has his ‘head right’ to be top-flight hit

Nov 28 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CARLOS Edwards believes the “kick in the teeth” of being sent on loan helped him get his head right after a poor start to the campaign.

The Trinidad and Tobago international has had to deal with his fair share of setbacks in the last two seasons through injury and loss of form, but believes his tough military upbringing helped him emerge from them. The 20-year-old spent six weeks with Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. But now, for possibly the first time since the Black Cats were promoted to the Premier League a year-and-a-half ago, Edwards has told fans they will finally see the best of him again.

“I am my biggest critic and I know I never started at the beginning of the season,” he reflected. “Looking back at all the injuries, my sharpness was not there, my head was not right. Many things can play a part and it’s up to the individual to be positive. The manager brought in new players, I fell back. It was kick in the teeth and I was sent out on loan. I’m now feeling the Carlos Edwards of old is back.

“I’m not going to say I will be back to my best straight away. It takes time to get back from injury. It took longer than I and the manager expected.”

Edwards joined midway through Sunderland’s Championship-winning campaign in 2006-07 and was the star of its second half. But ever since he has dogged by knee and hamstring injuries. They were all the more cruel because Edwards was perhaps more excited than any player about the Black Cats’ elevation into the top flight. The chance to play in the Premier League came late in the career of a player who learned his trade with Wrexham and Luton Town. But 18 months on, he is still to bring his talent to bear on the division after some of the lowest times of his career.

“You have to go forward to go back,” he said. “The manager was keeping a close eye on me and stuff. Now I’m back for more. It was not wasted time since promotion. I helped the team back into the Premier League. The word ‘wasted’ is harsh. I would say I have been more unlucky. It’s been like a rollercoaster, things can only get better. I’m relishing the opportunity and want to take it with both hands.

“Those 18 months were some of the lowest of my career. I also had a cruciate ligament injury in 2003. The process of the rehab for that was horrible. Having spent time with the military back home

helped me. At that time I did my cruciate, I came back and we won the LDV Trophy (with Wrexham). That shows if you put your mind to it you can come back strong.

“I worked so hard to fulfil my childhood dream of playing in the Premier League. It hurt me when I suffered the injuries.”

Edwards’ recall from Molineux came out of the blue, and he was delighted by it. “It has been exciting,” he said. “I left for international duty and then received the surprise call to return. It was nice because the manager obviously feels I have had enough game to get my sharpness back. I’m going to work my way back into the team and I want to play a big part.

“He doesn’t need to phone to say what he expects from me. I know what he expects and that means me performing to the levels I know I can.”

Meanwhile, Craig Gordon is back in training after an ankle injury which has taken longer than expected to heal.

The Scotland international cracked the bone preparing for October’s derby at home to Newcastle United.

“It was a joy to be out there,” he told the club’s official website. “It’s early stages but it’s great to be back in training. I’m not going to predict when I will be playing again, all I can say is the signs are encouraging.”

GARY Megson, who sold El-Hadji Diouf to Sunderland this summer, has paid tribute to the Senegalese “nutcase” as the two sides prepare to do battle.

“I’m sure I speak for a lot of people when I say we miss Dioufy,” said the Bolton Wanderers manager. “He always had a smile on his face and was a great lad around the place – an absolute nutcase. But he’s not vindictive or nasty at all.

“He’s a talented lad and I’m sure our supporters will give him the applause that he deserves.

Megson – whose side’s 3-1 success at Middlesbrough last weekend was their third win in four games – added: “Dioufy started off really well but has not been in the side much recently so I’m not sure if he will actually be playing against us this weekend.

“If he is, then we obviously know all about his quality and that’s another top player in the squad that they’ve got.

“If Dioufy doesn’t play then you’ve got Andy Reid, who is an excellent player, and the likes of Daryl Murphy and Kieran Richardson.”