Olly Gives Injuries The Boot

Olof Mellberg has revealed how he gave early season injury problems the boot after opting against surgery.

The Swedish international ace, who rose from his sick-bed to help Villa secure a vital point at West Ham yesterday, has now shrugged-off the Achilles injury that threatened to sideline him earlier this season.

And he reflected: ¡§The injury worries I had earlier in the season were a problem, but I think I¡¦ve come through the worst of that now.

¡§I did some exercises to help, but the main reason for my recovery I think was a new pair of boots. I stuck with my usual brand, but swapped them for a different style and I think that¡¦s what¡¦s helped me.

¡§Now the injury is not a worry for me ¡V I don¡¦t even think about it. I¡¦m glad I looked at other options instead of going for an operation. All of this time the manager has shown confidence in me, so I should pay that back.¡¨

Involvement in last summer¡¦s World Cup means Mellberg has not really had a break from football in the two years since his Villa Park arrival.

But, while other players might moan about ¡¥needing a break¡¦, the classy defender is happy to play week-in, week-out.

He added: ¡§I feel that the more I play, the better I get. To me football is fun and I enjoy playing, even though this has been a frustrating season for me at Villa.

¡§Yes I know I went straight into the World Cup with Sweden last year, but that¡¦s part of my game and I don¡¦t feel any after-effects at the moment.

¡§I didn¡¦t get a lot of rest in between the World Cup and the new season, but I¡¦m not looking for a break. Even at the end of this season, there will be more games with Sweden in our Euro 2004 group.

¡§I will take a holiday only when football allows me to. It¡¦s true that I¡¦ve had a couple of hard seasons, but I feel as good as ever,¡¨