Jayden Randell enjoying return to action after 16 months out injured
The 22-year-old centre-back broke both his tibia and fibula in a pre-season friendly for Concord Rangers against Southend[1] United in July 2022. And it has been a tough road back to full fitness for the defender. “The injury was a freak accident really and it could have happened to anyone,” said Randell.
“My main worry was work to begin with. “Football is obviously part-time for me and I’m a bricklayer but I can’t fault Concord at all. “They all helped out with a Go-Fund me page and I had the support of the physios too.
“Mentally I’ve always been upbeat so it was tough being stuck in my room. “I couldn’t even make myself a glass of water because by the time I’d hopped back from the sink there was no water left in the glass! “It was hard and a shock to the system.”
And Randell was almost ruled out for far longer. “I had ups and downs with it and they thought they would have to break my tib again at one point because it wasn’t healing properly,” said Randell. “I was told I might need another operation as well but they removed the two bottom pins out to see how that would go and thankfully it’s been fine.”
Randell is now back playing on loan at Hashtag United from Aveley. And he got back after opting to make the best out of a bad situation. “I’ve never really been in the gym before,” said Randell.
“Work is physical but this was my time to do it. “I wanted to make a bad situation into a good one and got myself in shape. “It’s the best shape I’ve been in but it was a lot of boring work to start with.
“I couldn’t kick a ball for 14 months but then my first game was for Aveley against Concord funnily enough.” Randell played an hour of the game and was boosted by an early tackle he was part of. “I thought I might shy out of challenges when I came back but you can’t do that at centre-back because they could be through on goal,” said Randell.
“I don’t normally get nervous but I was for this game. “I won an early tackle though so it went out of my head and it hasn’t affected me mentally at all.” However the long lay-off has made Randell crave regular first team football and that has led to him leaving Aveley twice on loan already this season.
“I went to Aveley at the start of the season and they’re flying,” said Randell. “I can’t knock anyone there at all but after a whole year off I need to get game time. “I went to Maldon & Tiptree which was great and now I’m at Hashtag for a month.
“It’s a good club and they’ve similar to Aveley with getting promotion.
“Every year they’re up there and you can’t fault them at all.
“It’s been fun and you do appreciate playing more after an injury like I had.”