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Baines forced to be patient

'I've tried to take it one day at a time'

Leighton Baines says that while he is hopeful of playing some part in the busy festive programme he explains that he has been forced to be patient and let his recovery take its natural course.

While the injury is healing, he has no target date for a return and the defender admits that he has found it difficult adjusting to not playing, particularly given how few injuries he has had in recent years.

"I've not been able to do a lot to treat it because it's a break," he tells evertontv, "so I've just sort of tried to see how it heals really and take it a day at a time."

With the busy Christmas and New Year period fast approaching, Baines would obviously like to be back in contention for his place sooner rather than later but he is having to give the injury time to heal.

"We thought about different things, injections and stuff," he continues, "but we didn't know whether that would set me back further so we are just trying to let it heal naturally at the moment.

"Obviously the schedule thickens up around Christmas and new year so you like to think you would be back and available to help the team at that point, but it's just one of those things. You have to wait and see.

"It's been pretty dull because you can't do a lot. There isn't that much treatment so it's just been a case of coming in and doing little bits of work in the gym and just hoping it recovers.

"I have found it really difficult not being involved. You do miss it but I have been quite lucky the last few seasons with injuries. I am trying to use the time as best I can."

Baines, who turns 29 this week, was full of praise for his teammates and Bryan Oviedo, his replacement, though.

"I think both [Oviedo and the team] have done brilliantly," Baines says. "The results we have got have been great, we couldn't have asked for much more over the three games.

"It is not an easy thing to do when you've been out the team a long time so Bryan deserves even more credit, not just for how good his performances have been but his professionalism in the way he has looked after himself.

"Thankfully it has made sure the team has got good results."

 

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