Jon Flanagan has thanked the fans for their support during his 20-month injury nightmare, according to a report on the Echo.
Flanagan missed more than 600 days of football has he underwent two surgeries on his knee after the 2013/14 season.
He eventually made his return as a 51st minute substitute in the replay against Exeter a week and a half ago, before coming unscathed through 105 minutes in the second leg of the League Cup final on Tuesday.
“It was just a brilliant reception,” Flanagan said when asked about his comeback.
“I wasn’t expecting that and it hit home that the fans are all behind me. It was a bit emotional for me. It has been a terrible time for me throughout the injury but now to be back is just a great feeling. It’s a relief to be back out there playing.”
All the fans have been behind me and I couldn’t have got through it without them,” he said. It was always going to be mentally tough. I got told I wasn’t going to be out for as long as I was and to keep going for the length of time I have been out it is hard to get your head around.”
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Flanagan made his Reds debut in April 2011 against Man City, but his real breakthrough came in 2013 when he was a late replacement for Glen Johnson in away game at Arsenal.
He went on to start 23 games that season (via WhoScored.com) and became an integral part of our side.
Let’s hope he can recapture that form in the rest of this season!