Cambridge United have been without the services of Adam May for nearly a year but assistant head coach Barry Corr has revealed that the player is closing in on a return to the matchday squad.
The midfielder suffered cruciate knee ligament damage during the U’s trip to Bristol Rovers last October, keeping him out of the side ever since.
May featured heavily for Mark Bonner’s side before the injury, making 112 appearances whilst proving pivotal as the club won promotion from League Two during the 2020/21 campaign, finding the net five times the following season as they solidified a 14th-place finish in League One.
After taking part in first-team training in recent weeks, it is highly likely that the midfielder will feature in Cambridge’s EFL Trophy clash at Peterborough United tomorrow.
Despite May’s absence, the Cambridgeshire club have started the season in excellent form, currently sitting in sixth position with four wins, to the surprise of many, after narrowly surviving in the third tier on the final day last term.
It will take time to ease the player back into first-team football after such an extended period out, but having May as an option will only strengthen Bonner’s squad as it remains up in the air as to what Cambridge United are capable of this term.
Speaking to The Cambridge Independent, assistant manager Corr said:
“He’s looking forward to the game and has been training with us for quite a while now.
“We all think that he’s getting sharper with every training session he has and the next step is to play minutes on the pitch.
“He’s been really good in training and he’s going to be a really important part of our squad. It will be good for him to get his first minutes tomorrow.
“It’s always difficult when you get such long-term injuries. He’s had a tough time but he’s seeing the end of it now,” Corr continued.
“I have my own experiences of that (knee injuries) and I kind of know what Adam has been through.
“He’s a brilliant guy, very popular amongst the rest of the guys, so we’re all really pleased to see him getting back out on the pitch. He’ll be such an important member of our squad.”
Writer’s View
Cambridge United missed the presence and goals from Adam May last year as the club battled relegation. Despite starting well, staying in the division will be the aim of the club this year and the prospect of May returning to the side will only increase their chances.
After a year out, it will still take a while for the player to return to the first eleven. However, his presence in the squad will be very valuable and uplifting in the coming weeks.
Their EFL Trophy clash against the Posh will be a great opportunity for the player to get his first minutes of the season and build up his fitness.