Port Vale: I'll be back stronger than ever, vows crocked Anyon
by Steve Shaw
CROCKED Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon has vowed to return stronger than ever from the injury that brought a sudden end to his season.
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Joe Anyon
The 22-year-old stopper suffered a clean fracture to his tibia during the 2-1 defeat at Chesterfield on March 28 and now faces four months out of action.
And although Anyon is out of contract in the summer, he says he is determined to wrestle his first-team place back from his young understudy Chris Martin – or anybody else for that matter – should he commit his future to the club.
A philosophical Anyon reflected: "I've been brought up to believe that everything happens for a reason.
"I've broken my leg, which will heal and become stronger – I haven't ruptured my knee or my Achilles.
"In my last 15 to 20 games I've been back to my best. It's been a mixed season for me, because the team's results haven't gone so well, but my own performances have been good.
"I've now got to do my rehab and stay focused. The goal is to be ready for the start of next season and regain my place, even if the manager brings in a new goalkeeper, or if Chris Martin is doing well."
Anyon has had the fracture manipulated and re-aligned and, as things stand, will not require surgery to pin the bone together. However, he will undergo a further X-ray examination in two weeks' time to check whether the break is healing well.
He will have his plaster cast partially removed down to his knee in four weeks, when he should be given the green light to start strengthening work on the leg.
Anyon broke the leg in a clash with Chesterfield striker Drew Talbot in a 50-50 challenge.
Reliving the moment, he explained: "When I saw the ball coming through on goal I thought I could get hurt.
"He was running at pace and we both went in as hard as we could."
I thought I would have to take the ball and the man out if he got past me.
"I thought I'd have to take him down, and with a defender covering me on my right the worst I would have given away was a penalty.
"But I got there quicker than I thought I would.
"He probably thought I was going to 'do' him and I thought he was going to 'do me' so
we both went in as hard as we could."
Vale manager Dean Glover is keen to tie his number one keeper to a new contract when his current one expires in the summer.
However, Anyon is refusing to make any premature decisions about his future while he focuses on his recovery.
The keeper insists Vale feels "part of him" after graduating through the club's youth ranks and insists it would be an "an honour" to sign a new deal to stay.
But he added: "I wanted to see what happens in the summer, and that hasn't changed just because I'm injured.
"Contracts are not in my mind at the moment.
"Obviously, the gaffer has come out in the paper and said there is something there for me, which was nice to read.
"But I want to see what happens at the club.
"There has been rumours about investment and nobody wants another season like this one, including the fans. But we have all got to stick together.
"I haven't spoken to any other clubs – all I've done is focused on the games.
"My performances have picked up and I've not been going out there to play rubbish.
"That's the way football is when you're trying to build consistency and I've been happy with that.
"I don't know what is going to happen – all I'm bothered about is getting fit."
If Anyon commits his future to the club, he says he is determined to return for pre-season training.
It is not the first time the Blackpool-born keeper has returned from serious injury, after breaking his jaw during his loan spell at Harrogate Town in April 2006.
He has also dislocated his shoulder while playing for Vale's youth side.
But Anyon insists his latest setback will not force him to change his uncompromising all-action style.
"I play with no fear and if a ball needs to be blocked, it doesn't enter my mind that I might get hurt – I'd do the same again," said Anyon.
"That's my job at the end of the day.
"If I'm not going to put myself on the line, then it's not the game for me.
"All of my injuries have been caused by impact.
"When I broke my jaw and lost a few teeth, that happened when I got kicked in the face.
"I dislocated my elbow playing for the youth side when somebody ran into me and over-extended when I punched the ball."
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