Perch hoping to see an end to his injury nightmare at Forest

STRIDING out onto the training pitch at Wilford Lane, James Perch was sporting a bigger smile than most of his team-mates.

While the damp late-October weather was beginning to suggest the onset of winter, the defender was delighted just to be there, to be involved.

After six months of doubt, worry and anguish – and of doing little more than sitting on his backside or doing light training sessions in the gym on his own – Perch was back out on a football pitch, back in the dressing room.

Months of total rest had failed to allow a stress fracture in his right leg to heal.

But specialists had advised that, if he did not suffer any pain, Perch could get back into training with the rest of his squad, despite the fact that his leg was still effectively fractured.

After a few sessions, Perch was not feeling any pain at all. There was a light at the end of the tunnel.

At least, that is, until Perch thought his bad luck had returned to haunt him.

"I was closing somebody down in a training match and I just pulled up," said Perch.

"I felt a sharp pain and I thought I had a serious problem.

"I did think I had properly done my Achilles. I left the ground on crutches and with a real problem – but came back the next day walking fine.

"I don't know if I am a quick healer or if it was just a bizarre sort of injury.

"It was actually an ankle problem.

"But I did think to myself 'bloody hell, not again' because an Achilles injury would have kept me out for months and months.

"I thought it was my season over when I was getting carried back to the dressing room."

That injury prevented him making his return in a reserve match a few days later against Coventry.

But, as the club's fringe players took on Barnsley on Tuesday afternoon, Perch was able to get involved, playing 55 minutes at the City Ground.

Perch's last game was in April, when Forest drew 1-1 at Blackpool.

His next first-team start is still a long way off – but he has reason to smile again.

"Now I can look at a first-team return on the horizon," he said.

"As I said, I am still miles away from a starting place. How long it takes will depend on how many reserve team games we can squeeze into the schedule, I guess.

"I need to get minutes on the pitch, because, at the moment, I am not that close.

"It has been a while, but it is always good to get back on the pitch and on the training ground.

"I am just lacking match fitness really. I was supposed to play in a friendly last week but then picked up that knock in training and we didn't risk it.

"But I can hopefully get a few friendly games under my belt.

"It is too early to think about starting first-team games, but maybe I can sit on the bench and play a part coming on with ten or 15 minutes to go.

"But, in a properly competitive game, against the likes of Cardiff or Palace, I am miles away.

"It will be good when I finally get on the pitch, even if it is just for five or ten minutes."

Perch, in fact, could already have returned to first team action, having being included on the bench when Forest travelled to Crystal Palace.

But the versatile defender or midfielder knows that decision was taken more out of desperation than anything.

"The manager told me he wanted to put me on the bench a few days before and I had to ask him if he was serious," said Perch. "I had to ask him again, because he was getting my hopes up.

"I was ready for it, even if I hadn't played any football since the Blackpool away game last season.

"I could have come on and got through the game, but he chose to put Luke Chambers on instead of me in midfield – which I have told him should never, ever happen again.

"But, joking aside, I don't think I could have played for half-an-hour.

"With a bit of luck, however, I soon will be ready for that start. For now, I am just happy to be back."