Fit-again Town midfielder Emyr Huws has reflected on his five-month injury nightmare, which ended in midweek with his return to action for the first time since signing permanently for the club.
After coming off the bench to play a prominent part in Town’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday two days ago he is looking to take another significant step forward by starting tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa, the third of five games in 15 days for Mick McCarthy’s men.
The Welsh international’s return is a timely boost, given David McGoldrick will be absent for around a month following surgery to repair a groin gash inflicted by Owls’ skipper Glenn Loovens, and he is grateful that he has reached the stage where his suffering is a thing of the past.
Huws was booked in for surgery last month, only for the operation to be cancelled at the last minute, and that turned out to be significant in his recovery.
He confessed: "It was weird and messed up my head and other people’s heads a lot but it’s fine now. I had never had any trouble with my achilles before that — it came right out of the blue — and hopefully I never have to go through anything like that again.
"It happened in my first week’s training in pre-season and I didn’t know what it was to be honest. It was the strangest injury I’ve ever had, or even seen, in all my time in football. I’m told it comes about due to an overload — of training presumably — and it wasn’t the achilles itself but the area around it.
"It just flared up and it took an age to get rid of the inflammation. When I was trying to get back training it was still there and it just wouldn’t let me function normally.
"It sounds quite basic but getting rid of it was another problem altogether. Restrictive is the word they used and I couldn’t move because the inflammation was there. We eventually got the right rehab programme so I’ve put it to bed now.
"It’s always tough when you are out injured for any period of time but this one was really tough, to be honest, because it’s been up and down with a lot of coming and going. I think it only makes you stronger, though, even if it is a bit of a cliché.
"I’m delighted to have come through this period and still be okay and it’s credit to the backroom staff at the club as well. It’s not just the gaffer, everyone has been really good, and together we have got through it.
"I was looking to the experts for some clarification but they couldn’t give me the definitive answer. It was hard for them as well because they were baffled.
"I’m just glad it’s all behind me now. As a footballer you get a lot of ups and downs, and you have to deal with them when they arise.
"You get used to it but I won’t deny it was tough dealing with this injury. The worst thing is not having control over what’s happening but now both me and the physio know what we are doing.
"It was one of the specialists I saw who came up with the answer after considering all the things that we had done previously. It took a while and we tried a lot but we got there in the end. People think surgery is the best answer but that’s not always the case.
"That should be the last resort and thankfully the surgeon made the right decision not to operate. Going forward I’ll train normally with the boys but gym-wise it will be different and I will have to carry on doing my own work.”
Huws will also be looking to revive his international career, having already won 12 senior caps to add to those won at U17, U19 and U21 levels, but he will have to impress a new manager after Chris Coleman’s decision to quit and join Championship strugglers Sunderland as the new man in charge at The Stadium of Light.
He added: "I’ve no idea who will get the job and I haven’t really talked a lot about it. I don’t think many people know who’s going to get it but I’m sure they will choose the right man to take us forward. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens and what it holds for me.
"I wasn’t really surprised to see Chris moving on. I think he wanted a new challenge and credit to him for what he’s done for Wales.
"I wish him all the best. Hopefully, for his sake, he can turn it round at Sunderland. He’ll get the boys going — he’s good at that — so I hope he has some success there.
"I missed some big games with Wales while I was out injured. Unfortunately we didn’t make the World Cup but we’re looking forward to the next campaign and trying to qualify for the Euros in 2020.
"I need to look at playing regularly and consistently for Ipswich, playing well and improving my fitness, and see where that gets me.
"There’s no point in me saying too much about Wales because it will be what I do for Ipswich that will determine whether or not I am selected.”
Meanwhile, Huws is glad to be reunited again with his former Manchester City colleague, Bersant Celina, who is at Town on a season-long loan and has so far contributed six goals from his 17 appearances, many of them as a substitute, in all competitions.
Huws said: "Bersant is a couple of years younger than me but I played with him a bit at City. I knew all about his ability, how he has great feet and how well he can play. He’s done really well since he’s come here.
"I know he was disappointed at the start because he wasn’t playing much but he has shown great mental strength, which is a credit to him. Technically he’s up there with the best young players at City and he’s come here and fitted in well with the boys. We’re happy he’s here.”