Harrogate Town's Mark Beck delighted to return to action against old club Carlisle United and hopeful that his injury woes are now over

And, the 27-year-old striker, who had not featured since early December due to the recurrence of a troublesome hamstring issue which he first picked up all the way back in November 2019, is hopeful that his appearance against the Cumbrians marks the end of a long-running injury nightmare.

“It was tough, I’m not gonna lie, but I was just very, very pleased to be back playing again,”Beck told the Harrogate Advertiser.

“Carlisle are one of the best teams in the division and they are a very physical side. Their two centre-halves are probably bigger than any we’ve played against this season, so I was straight into the thick of it and it did take me a while to get my second wind.

“But, it was nice to get thrown on. I’ve missed it and I’m hopeful now that I can stay fit, keep getting minutes under my belt and just start building myself up again.”

Initially sidelined with a grade one tear in his hamstring in late November 2019, Beck made two appearances from the substitutes’ bench around the turn of year, only to then break down again in training in mid-January 2020.

His progress following that set-back was slow, prompting Town to send him for additional tests in March, with a second MRI scan shedding new light on the situation.

Beck then had an injection into the problematic tendon in his hamstring, but the procedure did not have the desired effect and the first coronavirus lockdown meant that he was unable to return to hospital for further treatment.

He was eventually able to arrange a second injection in June and recovered just in time to take his place on the substitutes’ bench for the club’s National League play-off semi-final and final victories.

Harrogate’s first-ever League Two campaign kicked-off with Beck leading the line, though he has been in and out of Simon Weaver’s team since the start of 2020/21 due to flare-ups of his hamstring troubles.

“The most recent time I did it was in Taunton when we’d travelled down for the Exeter City game. I went for a shot in the training session the day before the match and just felt it tear again,” he added.

“It’s been really frustrating. Injuries are part and parcel of football, and when I initially did my hamstring back in November 2019, I just accepted it. I had a date to work towards when I knew I would be coming back, and although you never want to miss games through injury, I was okay with it.

“But with everything that has happened over the last year, it’s been tough. When you keep breaking down with the same issue it’s doubly frustrating.

“I’ve come back twice now and thought I was okay, been fit for a couple of months and then it has happened again.

“I’ve said this before, but hopefully this time I’m going to be able to stay fit. My hamstring isn’t quite 100 per cent yet - I still get the odd twinge occasionally if I bend down to pick something up at home or if I'm sat in the car for a while - but it feels as good as it has done for a long time.

“I certainly believe that it’s stronger than it was before I initially picked up this particular injury.”

Beck had played 15 times for Town in all competitions this term prior to his cameo against Carlisle, but Tuesday’s appearance ranks among his most enjoyable, and not just because it saw him return from yet another spell on the sidelines.

The ex-Scotland youth international came through the Cumbrians’ academy and played 66 league games for them between 2012 and 2015.

“It does add a bit more to the occasion when you’re playing against your old club,” Beck said.

“Ever since this fixture got rearranged for the third time and I knew I had a chance of being fit enough to play, I’ve been targeting it as the game to be back for.

“Obviously I wanted to be playing ASAP, but there was the extra incentive here. I came through the youth teams at Carlisle and had some really good times at the club playing in League One under Greg Abbott.

“I’ve still got feelings for Carlisle because they were my first professional club, so it was nice to play against them on Tuesday, but even better to win the game.”

Harrogate boss Weaver described Beck’s return as a big boost for his squad, and, given the tough time that he has had to contend with on the injury front, he insisted that his striker is due some better fortune.

“It’s great to see him back, he’s a great player to have with us and at our disposal,” he said. “He just needs a bit of luck. It’s the same for any player, you just need a run of games and to avoid injuries.

“He’s a really good lad as well and he deserves to have a run of injury-free games. He’s the type of character who you want to see do well.”