Ross Philp returns after injury lay-off
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 12 Jan 2012 08:00
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ALLOA defender Ross Philp - the only player at the club to remain from last season - played against Hibernian on Saturday.
WASPS defender Ross Philp is hoping to fight his way back into the first team after battling back against injury.
The 19-year-old played his first 45 minutes in almost a year after damaging ligaments in his knee.
The former Alloa Athletic youth player was involved in the first half of the bounce game against Hibernian Under 19's played at Recreation Park on Saturday.
The game ended 5-1 to the visitors who were under the guidance of their Academy head coach James McDonaugh, who himself started as a youth player at the Recs.
Philp told Advertiser Sport, "I was really happy to get through it and my knee was feeling fine at the end. It's been long and frustrating at times getting back.
"I'll hope now to try and break back into the first team again."
The last time Philp played was in Alloa's 2-2 draw against Brechin City in March 2011, in which he was stretchered off.
Not long before that game he had signed an extension to his contract tying him to the club until the end of the 2011/12 season.
It meant he was the only signed Wasps player when Paul Hartley took charge last May.
He said, "Paul has been brilliant with me all the way through. The physio he brought in has been great. I've been at full training the last four weeks and I've not had any problems with the knee. I just need to get my fitness up."
While Philp has been stuck on the sidelines, Hartley's side has been challenging the top spot in the league and are only a point behind Stranraer but with a game in hand.
The young defender has been encouraged by the change in Alloa's fortunes - having witnessed his side get relegated last season - and is itching to be back in the first team and help return the Wasps to Second Division football.
He said, "We're a good passing team and have a lot of good players and I can't wait to get out there playing again.
"It would be great to win the league but I don't want to be sitting around and come the end of the season know that I didn't play."
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 11 Jan 12
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