Big Green is back in training

FORRES Mechanics forward Ryan Green is set to return to training this week with a view to pulling on the Chocolate and Gold before the end of the 2012-2013 season.

The striker has been sidelined since the festive derby match against Nairn where he went off early in the game due to a worrying knee injury but as the testimonial man explained he has recently received the green light to return to training.

Green explained, “I went through the referral process and ultimately got an MRI scan on the knee about 6-8 weeks after the injury occurred. There was still a lot of bruising on the bone and a partial tear to the cartilage but importantly it appeared that although the cruciate ligament had been stretched it was still intact.

“When I went to see the consultant to assess the results he also highlighted that there was a cyst within the knee which he felt was the result of an old injury but added that, at this stage, there wasn’t really the need for an operation and advised me to crack on and see how things went.

“I have been doing a bit of running and it has been feeling okay. I did a warm up before the last home game and I hope to get back into training fully next week. Hopefully I can get back to a level where I will be able to be involved in the last few games of the season.

“We have an exciting attacking line up with Lee Fraser returning, Scott Lawrie and Willie Barron coming back in and of course Ross Archibald having been added to that. Like any other forward you want to play with guys capable of scoring goals and I can’t wait to get back into the thick of things especially as we look towards next season and trying to take the title back to Mosset Park.”

During his ten year stint with the Mechanics Green has played over 280 times scoring 80 goals and no Forres fan will ever forget the late strike against Turriff United, the last goal scored by a Can Can in the title winning campaign and undoubtedly one of the most important ever scored in the history of the Chocolate and Golds.

He has been the Players Player of the Year, Clubman of the Year and the Committee’s Player of the Year and collected winners medals from all three tournaments the Can Cans have the opportunity to win, the Highland League, the Highland League Cup and the North of Scotland Cup.

Can Cans boss Charlie Rowley is pleased to see “Big Green” back on the training ground again after a three months absence. “It is great to have Ryan back at training again. He is a big figure for us both physically and in the dressing room where he is one of the most popular players that has been at the club during my time.

“I hope he will be able to make an impact in the remaining games as we look to finish the season on a high with a view to hitting the ground running next term and being in with a shout of reclaiming the Highland League title.”

The details of Ryan’s testimonial dinner have been released with the award winning football impressionist Paul Reid set to visit one of the North FA clubs for the first time to provide parodies of the great and good of the global game of football with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourihno and Gordon Strachan set to have “their” say.

Paul Reid, a Dundee United coach, is joined by former Scottish Internationalist John Robertson. “Robbo” was one of Hearts greatest ever players and has subsequently gone on to manage both Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He has ultimately settled in the Highlands and continues to be a regular pundit on Radio Scotland’s Sportsound show.

With Alasdair Farquhar compering it is one of the liveliest line ups that has been brought together for such an event and testimonial committee member Steven Rattray hopes that the businesses and fans alike will come out to support Ryan and ultimately take the chance to savour a top class entertainment line up.

Rattray said, “A lot of work has gone in to ensuring that we had the best possible line up for this event. We were lucky to have the pick of some of Scotland’s top after dinner speakers and I feel that in Reid and Robbo we have a line up that will make it an ideal night for anyone with an interest in football.

“This will be a great event for corporate entertainment but also for the fans and I would encourage people to get in touch with Pam who is co-ordinating the seating at the event as soon as possible to ensure they don’t miss out.”