George McCartney and Danny Gabbidon have two things in common — they were once West Ham team-mates and have both experienced the misery of long-term injuries.
The two defenders, now fit again, could face each other in tonight’s derby at Crystal Palace and while the result is all-important to both teams, McCartney is just happy to be back playing again following a career-threatening knee injury.
“I’ve had a couple of League Cup games but it’s nine months since I had made a start in the Premier League,” said the former Sunderland full-back, who returned to the first team in the 3-0 win over Fulham. “It was good to get out there again, last the 90 minutes and feel pretty good.
“When you’re out for a long period it’s tough. I’ve been ‘down’ at times but you try to stay positive and the reward comes when you get back out on the pitch, last a full game and get the right result.
“I’m looking now to stay in the team. I’m fit and ready to play against Crystal Palace, if selected.”
Gabbidon, meanwhile, spent 20 months on the sidelines during his six seasons at Upton Park with injuries including knee, groin and hamstring.
McCartney said: “I played in the same West Ham team as Danny when I was here the first time. He was going through a bad spell with injuries at the time but he’s a good defender and I am sure he will be looking to get one over us.”
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce hopes his side can notch up two successive Premier League wins for the first time since they returned to the top flight last year.
“We can’t sit back now,” he said. “Palace are below us and the win over Fulham will have been wasted if we lose there.”
Allardyce is also finally anticipating the return of Andy Carroll to training. “We hope to have him back tomorrow and from there on we hope to progress him back into the squad,” he added.
