Kris made a welcome return to action with 45 minutes for Forest's reserves.
By Kris Commons. Friday, 09 February 2007.
This week Kris talks about his trip to Old Trafford, standing with the Forest fans at Bradford and getting 45 minutes against Huddersfield Reserves.
Hi everyone.
I was at Old Trafford on Wednesday for the England game.
It was not the best match, but the experience was something else. I had been on a tour there many years ago, but I'd definitely like to go back and see a game. The atmosphere was amazing.
England were not at their best. When we went down the right we looked dangerous. On another day and with different personnel perhaps, it might have been better. Shaun Wright-Phillips stuck out really wide but it just was not happening for him. Aaron Lennon would have made a difference. We did not have anything down the left though.
A lot has been made of the difference in technique between the two teams, but I did not see it. Rio Ferdinand was different class. He looked like he was in his own comfort zone. He was quality. For Spain Iniesta looked sharp the moment he came on and Xavi was quality. Torres looked sharp on the ball too.
I travelled to Bradford last Saturday for our league game but the gaffer and I had a chat before the match and he asked me how I was feeling. I said I was not 100 per cent and had not got any match practice under my belt. He said it would be nice to have me on the bench but that he did not want risk me getting injured. We thought it was best I sat out.
I ended up watching the game from that stands. Someone who I used to go to school with said he was at the back of the stand with the Forest fans and did I want to join him? I went up there after half-time. It was great.
I got a few shouts from the fans and they were signing to me. It was brilliant...when we were winning anyway. When Bradford equalised, you could see the hurt in the Forest fans' faces. I felt like one of the fans, I forgot who I was for a few moments. I felt more disappointed, being with the fans, than if I had watched it by myself.
It gave me a different perspective, seeing what they see and how they get behind the boys. They are always singing and being positive - I've said in interviews before that they always see the positives in the players. It's given me an incentive to give an extra ten percent when I start playing again.
It was a good game to watch. We played some good football but credit to Bradford, they equalised in the last minute. We came away feeling we had lost the game. We should have dealt with the last goal. We should have cut out the cross or the keeper should have come for it. We were a bit unlucky though and could have been 3-1 up when Scott Dobie had one cleared off the line by their full-back.
I got 45 minutes under my belt for the reserves against Huddersfield on Tuesday. I was a little bit worried before the game. You see things on Sky Sports News of players rushing back and limping off - I did not want that.
But the cobwebs soon came off. After ten or 15 minutes I forgot about the injury. The plan was to have an hour, but my body was feeling tight as I had done a lot of vigorous training recently. I came off at half-time and after a bath I did not feel too bad. It was good to have a run.
I was replaced by a young lad called James Reid. He's taken part in first team training a few times. He's got a nice left foot and ability too. He's been in the England set-up and is one to watch.
I've played a lot of reserve team football. I remember thinking 'Jesus' when I first made the step-up from youth team football. Now I only ever seem to play for the reserves when I am coming back from injury. It was a little odd as I hardly knew any of the boys playing. I spent a lot of the time trying to work out people's names - it probably distracted me from my football.
I hope to be on the bench on Saturday for Northampton. I'm looking forward to getting back to first team action. Hopefully I'll get 20 or 30 minutes, then perhaps another reserve team game next week, then more game time the following weekend. It's a gradual process.
What was the last film you saw?
Graham Turrall
World Trade Centre. It was a very emotional and moving film. It certainly makes you appreciate what you have.
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