Orient striker Gray vowes to come back stronger next season

11:23am Friday 9th May 2008

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ORIENT striker Wayne Gray has vowed to comeback stronger next season after being handed an early boost on the knee injury he picked up on Saturday.

The 27-year-old fell awkwardly during the final match of the campaign against Bristol Rovers, and there were fears he may have damaged his cruciate, which would have seen him miss much of the new season.

Because of heavy swelling and bruising that situation isn't completely confirmed just yet and the former Yeovil striker will have to return in a month to see the specialist, who looked over his scans on Tuesday.

But at present the expert from the Lister Hospital, Victoria, believes the ligament is still intact and it appears Gray has suffered the far lesser injury of damaging his medial ligament. And while that is likely take between six to eight weeks to heel, the striker is confident that if that is the only damage he has sustained that he will be back raring to go for the big kick-off in August.

He said: "At the moment as it stands I'll miss the start of pre-season, but will be back for some of it and should be ready for the new season.

"So looking on the bright side at the moment I'm glad there doesn't appear to be any damage to the cruciate, because I'd be out until after Christmas.

"So I will start the rehabilitation work as soon as possible and will be looking to be back for the start of the season.

"Of course having got three goals in the last three games of the season to make double figures I was on a high, but that is the thing with football you can never predict what is going to happen next.

"The game always throws up those highs and lows and that is why people love football so much.

"Of course it is frustrating to have picked up the injury now, because I was hoping to go away over the summer and get over those little niggles and come back strong for next season.

"But it could have been a lot worse and at least I've got the chance to be ready for the start of the season and that is my aim.

"Like any striker I want to score goals and having finished the campaign on a high, hopefully I can come back and take that into the new season as well now."