Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris has expressed his eagerness to work with striker Shayne Lavery, with the possibility of the Northern Ireland international returning to action before the end of the season.
Lavery, who has been sidelined for much of the 2024/25 campaign due to hamstring injuries, could potentially make a return to the bench in April or May, according to Harris.
Frustrating Start
Lavery, who joined the U’s on a free transfer from Blackpool last summer, has had a frustrating start to his tenure at Cambridge, with injuries limiting him to just 12 League One appearances. During these outings, the 26-year-old has scored four goals, but none of these appearances have come since Harris took over as head coach in February.
“There’s a possibility late on towards the end of April or beginning of May that he might be back involved with us on the bench for a couple of games,” Harris revealed. “What would be really nice for Shayne would be to have him back involved in the group. I really want to work with him and I look forward to working with him into next season.”
While Lavery has been sidelined, Harris remains optimistic that a late-season cameo off the bench would not only be beneficial for the player but also for the club. The head coach believes that having Lavery back, even if only for short bursts, would provide a boost both to the team’s morale and to Lavery’s confidence going into the summer.
“To have him back involved – even off the bench for a couple of games – would be hugely positive for me personally, but for the football club as well and also for Shayne,” Harris added.
Lavery, whose contract with the U’s runs until the summer of 2026, remains a key figure in Harris’s long-term plans. The striker is eager to shake off the injury troubles and make a more consistent contribution in the future.
“If we can tick a box and Shayne trains for the whole of April and we put him on the bench, even if it’s for a couple of 15 or 20-minute cameos, it would be nice for him to go away in the summer and know he’s fully fit,” Harris said.
Having arrived at Cambridge United in the summer of 2024, Lavery’s spell has been plagued by injury setbacks. Despite this, the striker showed promise early in the season, scoring his first goals for the club in a thrilling 4–4 draw with Blackpool.
Writer’s View
Shayne Lavery’s return, even if limited to brief appearances off the bench, could provide a much-needed spark for Cambridge United in the final stretch of the season. Harris’s pragmatic approach of bringing Lavery back slowly shows a sensible balance between managing his recovery and giving him a taste of match action.
