George Lapslie thanks new Charlton physio for ending his hamstring hell

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

George Lapslie has thanked Danny Murphy – crediting the physio with finally ending his hamstring hell.

The Charlton midfielder marked his first appearance since November 9 by scoring the final goal in Saturday’s victory over Luton.

Lapslie, 22, celebrated by tucking the ball under his shirt – revealing afterwards that his parner Ruth is 21 weeks pregnant.

The academy product was quick to praise Murphy, recently brought into the Addicks’ medical department to try and solve their injury woes this season.

Lapslie has played six times this season but only twice since August 24.

He said: “I did my hamstring tendon three times in a row. “It was a bit of a mess up the first two times – we didn’t really know what it was – but the third imaging came back clearer and we knew it was a hamstring tendon.

“It’s been five months, on and off, just grinding in the gym. It’s been hard work but moments like that are worth it.

“The physio who got me over the line – Murph – has been unreal. I just say thank you to him for all the work he’s done for me.

“He’s been staying until five, half five or six and making sure I do it properly. I’m buzzing he’s here and buzzing I’m back fit.

“Redoing [his hamstring] it once is tough to deal with and redoing it twice you think ‘what’s going on here?’.

“The third time was a bit of a silver lining because they got the right thing, for some reason they used a different kind of scanner.

The last time was high resolution. If that hadn’t come back any different then it would have been harder to deal with.

Lapslie found out he was back in the Charlton squad on Friday afternoon.

“A text got put in the group chat,” he said. “I’ve come back sooner than I expected.

“It was a huge game, a real six-pointer. If we had lost to them it would have put them one win away from us. If you get three points it’s only going to make the table look better.

“It would be just as good if I didn’t come on if we got the three points. That’s all that mattered.

“But I’m very pleased with my performance and goal.

“I thought this morning [Saturday] if I scored I would do it [putting the ball under his shirt]. I’ll get fined for it but I’ll pay it happily. There’s going to be a little Lapo.

“We always believe in ourselves, we don’t feel we are where we deserve to be. I don’t remember a match where we didn’t have a hope in a game. We’ll keep grafting to try and get even higher.

“It’s going to be a slog and we’ve got to come together and try and get us safe.”

PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS