Sacha Harding’s neck injury may well be keeping him out for another six weeks, but Mike Rayer is not downcast about losing one of his most influential players.
Flanker Harding sustained the injury during the New Year’s Day win over the Cornish Pirates and has since been forced to miss the matches against Doncaster and London Scottish.
But Bedford Blues boss Rayer is hopeful that the 11-year Goldington Road veteran will be back fully fit when the Championship play-offs start, rather than missing out like last season.
“I’ve turned it into a positive because last year we lost him just before the play-offs and he was instrumental to our plans,” said Rayer. “With a bit of luck and some rehab Sacha will have a six week pre-season with a view to him being ready come March 10.
“That can only be good for us because we can wrap him up in cotton wool and get him there.
“He’s got a nasty injury and a period of rest will hopefully let that settle down because it could be worse than what it is.
“Sach plays with his heart on his sleeve at the end of the day and these impact injuries happen. The one that sparked this off in particular was of car crash volumes and he has done well to play since that.” Bedford have a blank weekend due to their elimination from the British and Irish Cup and although Rayer is disappointed not to still be involved, he concedes it has been a slight blessing in disguise that has allowed those suffering injuries to recover.
John Fisher is gradually being reintroduced to full training, while Sean Tomes, Billy Johnson, David Vincent and Ollie Dodge should all be fit to face Leeds Carnegie at Headingley a week today.
Rayer was quick to praise the work done by fitness coach Jamie Baine and the medical staff in helping the recovery of those players who have been sidelined recently, particularly with regards to getting Gregor Gillanders and Ian Vass back up to speed.
He said: “They’ve worked hard on their rehab as they always do and Jamie [Bain] is on top of that with the physio. We try to make the rehab worse than the training so they don’t get into a habit of staying in there. The physios and Jamie have earned their corn to get these lads back up and fit.
What Gregor Gillanders has done, to have picked up his form from where he was to where he is, is quite sensational really because he had no right to be putting in the performances he has. He has just been like the glue that has kept us together lately and with more game time he is only going to get better.
“Vassy has come back from injury, he is doing his bit and keeping up together, but it is tough for him.
“It was his second knee operation and I thought he performed well last weekend.” Two other players are set to miss the trip to Leeds though. Handre Schmidt’s knee injury looks set to keep him out until the play-offs, while Henry Staff is not expected to return until the following week’s visit of Plymouth Albion.
