Harrogate Town injury update: Will Smith close to a return, though team-mates have some way to go

Harrogate Town defender Will Smith. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

The 22-year-old ex-Barnsley defender was among the Sulphurites’ stand-out performers during the early months of their debut Football League campaign, but has been sidelined since early November.

He picked up something of a freak injury during Town’s 1-0 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers, tearing a hamstring as well as hurting his neck and suffering whiplash after landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge.

It is the damage to tendons in his hamstring that have ruled Smith out for the last 10 weeks, with late January the earliest that he anticipated being able to play again.

Birmingham City loanee Mitchell Roberts pulled a hamstring on his Harrogate Town debut at Cambridge United.

And Harrogate boss Simon Weaver has confirmed that his player’s rehabilitation and recovery has gone well and that he is closing in on a return to competitive football.

“Will is starting to train and will be joining the group in the next couple of days which is really good, so hopefully he is only a week away,” Weaver said.

"It will be brilliant to have him back. He was in the top one or two performers during the first weeks of the season and played a massive part in us making such a strong start.

"We have certainly missed him. He's a very, very good player."

Assuming that Smith does not suffer any set-backs in the next week or so, he could well be in contention to play a part against Newport County on January 30.

The news on the rest of Town’s crocked players is however less positive.

Striker Mark Beck (hamstring), on-loan defenders Dan Jones (groin) and Mitch Roberts (hamstring) and goalkeeper Joe Cracknell (knee) all remain a number of weeks away from being able to feature again.

“The others are further down the line,” Weaver added.

“Mark Beck has had another injection into his tendon [in his hamstring]. He’s not feeling it in his running, so hopefully we can step him up a little bit, but he’s had quite a long absence now.

“Mitch has gone back to Birmingham for treatment, obviously he will be returning to us as soon as possible, hopefully that will be in two or three weeks time.

“Dan is further away than those two. Probably the start of March - hopefully before.

“He is doing some really hard work in his rehab and the sooner the better we get Dan back.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Cracknell - who damaged knee ligaments during training late last month - is due to return to see his specialist in early February.