Talented young midfielder Josh Dixon has been explaining how his terrible misfortune with injuries has made him even more determined to make it at Carlisle United.
Dixon has suffered three serious injuries in his short time at the club and is embarking now on his latest come-back.
Talking to the club website, 21-year-old Dixon spoke about the setback as yet another challenge to be faced as he handed back the crutches and stepped up his post-operation recovery this week.
A product of Carlisle’s academy system, and then impressing in the youth team, he earned his first pro contract at the end of the 2017/18 season. But a ruptured ACL picked up later that summer meant that he missed out on his first year as a professional.
He was back and in training for pre-season ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, but another training ground injury was eventually confirmed to be a second ACL problem, and he was once again under the knife for a repair.
His recovery was hampered by a troublesome cartilage problem in September 2021 but he got back playing and had a brief spell on loan with Workington in NPL West.
Then, back at Carlisle in April, he went down under a heavy challenge in a Central League Cup meeting with Morecambe. The worst fears were confirmed when the initial swelling settled and a rupture to the ACL was identified.
He insisted: “It’s obviously not ideal but it’s happened now and I’ve just got to get on with it. I know it’s been a bit unfair on me, this is three times now, but as soon as it happens I know I just have to get on with it.
“There’s no other way of dealing with it, to be fair. I’ve got a really supportive family and friends that have made it easier
“It wasn’t as painful as the other times. When I went down, came off and it stiffened up, I sort of knew. When you hear the final news of what it is, it’s not nice.
“But even I didn’t think at first that I’d done anything. Then I go for my scan, have a few days of waiting, that was horrible, and then actually finding out I’d done it again.
“At first it doesn’t really sink in, then it’s weeks after, when you realise how long the actual process is. I’ve just got on with it, I’m doing well.”
Dixon is philosophical, though, and believes it does definitely help that he’s been through it before.
He says: “Because I’ve been through it, there are certain stages I know how to deal with. Not that that’s a good thing, but it’s helped me.
“With this one I’ve done a little bit of cartilage as well, which meant I was on crutches for two or three weeks. I’m off them now, I’m feeling good.
“I think probably the worst thing you can do is hide away, or let yourself think about it too much.
“The most frustrating part is there were two games a week at the time so I was getting used to playing 90 minutes of football again after so long out. Then this happens and it’s not ideal.
“But it won’t stop me from working hard and trying to get back up to the pace of things as soon as possible.
“I think the surgeon and Ross are looking at February-March time, which doesn’t sound great at the minute, but I’m seven weeks gone now, and these have flew in. You just have to take it day by day.
“I’m just working hard every day in the gym, after sessions, to try and make me as strong as possible.
“Before I come back this time I want to make sure all my leg muscles are as strong as possible so this doesn’t happen again.
“I’ve had little snippets and feel I’ve done well when I’ve came on, but I am hungry for more. It’s just going to have to be a bit of a waiting game but I’m going to work as hard as I can to get back.”
