From Yorkshire Post on Mr Hume

BARNSLEY: Hume in the running for a Tykes return

TWO months ago Iain Hume was hospitalised with a fractured skull. There were those who said he'd never play again.

The Canadian international remains sidelined but the Barnsley striker now hopes to be back in training in just two weeks' time.

Hume's prospects looked grim when he was poleaxed by a Chris Morgan elbow in November's South Yorkshire derby against SADVERTISEMENTheffield United at Oakwell.

Rushed to hospital and requiring surgery, when the 25-year-old would next pull on a Barnsley shirt was the last thing on supporters' minds.

Hume, who was discharged a week later, has been resting at home since and delighted fans with a return to Oakwell as a spectator for the Reading game in December.

The forward is now making a quicker than anticipated recovery and is quietly optimistic of returning to training with Barnsley within the next fortnight.

"It's going forwards and I started doing my first run the other week," Edinburgh-born Hume said.

"The physio has been coming to see me, I have been doing a few more runs and I am excited by it to be honest as I am able to do things now.

"I've just got to hopefully push forwards and get a bit closer to doing things with the team.

"It was on the 30th (of December) that I did my first proper run with the physio and things were feeling quite good.

"We've now decided that it could be time to push on a little bit and start working out and that and in the next couple of weeks I might be back training with the boys.

"I hadn't been training or anything and when the physio came over we were just going to do a little bit of work in my house because I have a little gym.

"We decided to go for a run and fortunately things were okay and there were no problems at all with my head. It was only 20 minutes like, but it was a good 20 minutes."

Hume knows his recovery is far from complete and key to his return will be the results of a second scan when the hitman sees a specialist at the end of the month.

However, it's a case of so far, so good, and the targetman is relieved he has felt no side effects from his horrific injury.

"Apart from the odd headache here and there I haven't had any pain for a while," he added.

"Hopefully, I can be back by the end of February/the beginning of March but that all depends on when I start training again.

"I'll have to see how it goes there and see if I can get my confidence back in heading the ball.

"Obviously, I've got to wait for my scan first – I've not even had my second scan yet.

"That's hopefully at the end of January/beginning of February so it depends on what they say there and whether it is all clear or not.
"We've just got to wait and see and then go from there."

No matter how quick or how successful Hume's recovery is, he will always be scarred by that horrible moment on November 8 last year.

However, the amiable striker is not one to dwell on events that have been and gone – even though he admits sitting on the sidelines has been driving him mad.

Hume also says that contrary to early speculation and reports, he never doubted his fractured skull would end his career.

"I read in the papers that they thought that, but I never thought that to be honest," he said. "I just thought it would be a good few months.

"I never really had any doubts that I would be back but obviously it's that type of injury that can end careers so I'm glad I'm on my way back.

"I don't really look back on it to be honest, it's happened and there's nothing I can do about it. It's just about getting fit.

"It's been terrible being out and I am the worst person to sit and watch games.

"I hate it but it's something that's happened and something I have to cope with – there's nothing I can do about it."

Hume's painstaking sitting and suffering has at least been made easier by a brilliant turnaround in Tykes form recently.

He added: "I'm just happy that the lads have done so well and to be honest they have been brilliant.

"They have picked up the away form and the home form has been good again.

"It's good to know the lads are doing well and hopefully when I do get back I can contribute to that, getting us up the Championship and pushing up."

Optimistic about his recovery he may be, but Hume knows he would be foolish to expect too much too soon or indeed an instant return to the form that has made him such a hit after just four months at Oakwell.

Signed for £1.2m last June, three of Hume's four goals pre-injury inspired Barnsley to crucial wins and his displays and commitment have already made him a firm favourite with the fans.

He hopes he can end the season how he started it but it's very much one step at a time.

"I don't need to worry about that and put any pressure on myself," he said.

"Obviously I am going to say I want to get back better than I was or as good as I was or what not, but I've just got to worry about getting back first and hopefully I can push on when I get back.

"Hopefully I can pick up the form I had from before and if I can do that I'll be more than happy."

If there is one incentive driving Hume forward it is the magnificent support he has received from the club's fans.

Hume is still a newcomer at Barnsley – his six months at Oakwell a drop in the ocean compared to his six seasons at Tranmere Rovers and three years at former club Leicester City.

But he says in times of adversity his injury has further tightened an already growing bond between him and his newly-adopted Tykes supporters.

"They have been brilliant," said Hume. "I have been to watch two games now and they have been fantastic. All the fans during the game against Reading were cheering me and it was good to know they cared.

"It was good that they noticed me there and that they tried to welcome me back.

"That makes me want to get back a little bit quicker as I can start to repay some of that faith.

"The way the fans have been considering I have only been here for what, five months/six months, to know that they have put in all that care and that they know what I am going through, that's a big thing for me.

"It shows that I have had a bit of a connection with them and I am just hoping when I get back I can pick it up from where I left off and get it back to how it was."

 

Has all the legal stuff against Morgan been dropped?

I thought something would have been instigated by now. I'm sure that the FA is happy that it is quietly been forgotten, except for the Tykes fans.

 

it'll all be quietly forgotten until...

the 14th feb...im not one to condone violence but i fully expect a large number of violence between the thugs considering what happened or more to the point what didnt happen in the aftermath of the event..barnsley fans are angry simple as that,then it will be all over the papers again and the side of the victim in this will be seen as nothing but thugs, the reds will be charged by the f.a bla bla bla

 

Idiot nt

 

isnt my feelings mate just what i believe is going to happen nt

 

RE: it'll all be quietly forgotten until...

daft statement really pal.........if both sets of lads are going to clash the hume incident will not play any part in it........its a local derby where hatred already exists, and violence can erupt, as it as in the past

 

I'm sure that's not what Hume wants to happen

Think he'd be disgusted if anyone had a scrap on his behalf - he'sbeen very dignified throughout all of this and I'm sure there are better ways of showing how people feel about Morgan

 

agree with both statements

no way should it happen cos of the incident and hume also would'nt want it to happen..just think it will add to the rivalry thats all

 

Nope it wont people arent that stupid anymore!

 

mr articmonkeyred

did'nt deserve to be called an idiot either for posting a though

 

So it's a possibility then...

That Hume could even make his return against Sheff Utd?

That'd be interesting...

 

Unfortunately I think that there will be trouble

... we have our idiots and Sheff Utd have theirs who are very nasty. Their treatment of Wednesday fans last season was disgraceful.I don't think it will be safe to be a Barnsley fan at the Lane.</p>

</p>

 

You're probably right.

</p>

There will always be a clash with this fixture but I think animosity has been hightened by Morgan's assault and the subsequent shenanigans.</p>

 

RE: You're probably right.

Tend to agree - the comments from Blackwell and Sam Ellis have inflamed matters and I haven't heard a single Sheff. Utd fan condemn what Morgan did so there is bound to be an increased level of bad feeling between the 2 sets of supporters. Along with Leeds, Cardiff, Millwall etc they have become a scum club...

 

RE: mr articmonkeyred

cheers mate..thats all i was doing expressing my thought

 

when you get pissed on in the lower tier....