Football: Winter wipeout suits Styche (From Gazette Series)

Forest Green striker Reece Styche is on the comeback trail

9:08am Thursday 16th February 2012 in Gloucestershire Sport By Ashley Loveridge

ONE man who admits he doesn’t mind Forest Green’s games being postponed at the moment is their star striker Reece Styche.

The 22-year-old hot shot went under the knife in September at Cheltenham’s Nuffield Hospital after an exploratory operation revealed significant damage to his right knee, but the popular former plumber is now on the comeback trail.

The Birmingham-based striker, who turned down Blue Square Premier giants Luton Town to pen a three-year deal just before his injury, is now targeting a return next month and is using the backlog of postponed games as a personal positive.

He said: “I want the lads to play, but from a selfish point of view I am absolutely buzzing that the games are off as it gives me a chance to play in more games.”

Styche has been working in tandem with Tim Grigg and is indebted to the work the senior sports therapist has put in following his microfracture surgery.

“Griggy (Tim Grigg) has been unbelievable with my rehab. I can now smash the ball as hard as I possibly can and do fast feet work with no reaction whatsoever.

“I just need to keep working with Griggy and load the knee and hope to be back knocking on the first team door between three to six weeks.

“Chiropractor Richard Brown, sports massage therapist Jason Ford, surgeon Harminder Gosal, the lads and management have helped me through and kept me positive.”

His sabbatical has given him time to focus on the forthcoming new mini-Styche.

He added: “My partner Paige is expecting our first baby (boy) in five weeks, so this has certainly kept my mind occupied.”

Forest Green’s scheduled home match against Luton Town in the Blue Square Bet Premier was postponed due to a frozen New Lawn pitch.

Freezing cold weather and sizeable flurries of snow meant that despite the best efforts of the club’s groundsman Stewart Ward, boss David Hockaday, coach Scott Bartlett and a group of fans, the cold snap won the day.

Rovers are due to welcome Gateshead at the New Lawn on Saturday (3pm).

* Forest Green trained on the 3G pitch at Rednock School on Tuesday.