Bradford & District | Archive | 2002 | February | 22
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Friday 22nd Feb 2002.
Lee Sharpe is winning the race to play at Gillingham tomorrow.
Sharpe has recovered from the rib injury which sidelined him for three weeks although because of the two postponements, he only sat out the Wolves defeat.
The midfielder returned to full training on Wednesday and he is keen to carry on where he left off as the form card in Nicky Law's pack.
Sharpe said: "Things are improving slowly but hopefully I'll be fit for the weekend. I'm training again and that's what I am aiming towards.
"The more games you play on the run the better you get and this has come at a bad time for me. I need to get back as soon as I can for me and for the team.
"I picked up the injury at Grimsby although I didn't feel it in the game. It just got worse in the days after that and at one stage I was struggling to sleep because I couldn't lie down and breathe properly.
"Nothing is broken, I've either sprained a muscle high up between my ribs and chest plate or just badly bruised it. There is no treatment that can get to it so you just have to wait for everything to settle down, but I think that I'm getting there now."
Sharpe's contract expires at the end of June and with Law looking to rebuild heavily before next term, he has to convince the manager that he is worth another deal.
The former England international has flattered to deceive during his three years at Valley Parade and finished last season on a three-month loan with Portsmouth.
Talks about a permanent move south collapsed last summer but Sharpe's hopes of winning his way back into the Bantams side were shattered by a knee injury at Macclesfield in August.
He missed four months of action before returning just before Christmas. But Law's arrival has rejuvenated his form, with the new boss claiming that Sharpe still has the talent to perform in the Premiership.
Law said: "Sharpey being back training with us is good news all round and he'll certainly be available for the squad.
"He's had a good run of matches before the injury and has been unlucky. It's unusual to get rib injuries and to have three at the club at the same time is strange.
"You can never tell with that type of problem how long it will take to heal but Lee seems to be getting over it."
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