Aaron Ramsey Ready To Confront Injury Demons on Return To Stoke

Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey spent nine months on the sidelines, less time than expected. After his leg healed, he still needed to regain match fitness so earlier this season he had loan stints at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff. Then in March he made his comeback for Arsenal, featuring in the FA Cup defeat at Manchester United. Gradually, however, he was getting his groove back and his recovery reached a landmark point when he drove in the goal that downed United last weekend.

Arsène Wenger suggests that the one positive consequence of his injury is that it may have given the Welshman even greater psychological strength. "I think there is no better maturing system than what happened to him," the Arsenal manager says. "To be suddenly blocked at the age of 18 when you're flying and having to wait a year without knowing what will happen – certainly he is mentally stronger now. You have to be."

Nevertheless, Wenger believes that Wales made a mistake in making Ramsey captain in March. "I really feel it was a bit too much pressure on him after not being completely ready himself," Wenger says.

The final stage in his recovery, perhaps, will come on Sunday when he must surmount the mental challenge posed by the scene of his agony. Wenger admits that there is no way of knowing for sure how the player will react but knows the confrontation must take place. "There will always be a question mark about that," Wenger says. "But it's like you have a car accident: do you never drive again? Of course you do, and the earlier the better."

For Shawcross too, it will be a challenging day. He left the field in tears following his part in Ramsey's injury and was deeply distressed by insinuations by Wenger that he had meant to hurt his opponent. Barracked by Arsenal fans when Stoke visited the Emirates earlier in the season, Shawcross will again be reminded of the incident he would rather forget when he sees Ramsey. Stoke's assistant manager, Dave Kemp, insists the centre-back will not let sentiment influence his performance. "In any player's career you will have ups and downs and things you have to deal with. I don't expect anything to affect his performance." said Kemp.

Source: Guardian