Cobblers striker Platt hoping injections will sort out troublesome calf muscle injury

The big front man says he tore his calf muscle ‘three or four times’ at the back end of last season, as he tried desperately to get himself fit to play a part in Town’s bid to win promotion from league two.

The former Coventry City and MK Dons man did get himself in good enough shape to lead the Cobblers line in the 3-0 play-off final defeat to Bradford City at Wembley, but he is still paying the price for that effort.

“I got an injury at the wrong time last season,” said Platt.

“I would have liked to have played more of a part in the back end of the season, and would have liked to have been fit.

“But because of the way the squad was at the time, and the part of the season it was, I was constantly trying to rush back to get involved.

“We did everything on the shortest possible basis, and I ended up tearing my calf muscle about three or four times.

“I am still having issues with it now, but hopefully we can get it sorted out in the next week or so.”

Platt visited a specialist in London this week, and has undergone a series of injections to try and rectify the problem once and for all.

“We played it slowly throughout the summer, and I have done a lot of work on it, but I have come back and it is still a bit of an issue,” admitted Platt.

“I have spoken to the specialist now, and basically because I tore the muscle so much and so often last season, there is just a build-up of scar tissue.

“I’ll now go through a procedure that will remove that, and then hopefully I will be back to full fitness in a couple of weeks.

“I am in a position now where it might just takes a couple of weeks extra to get my calf right, and then I just want to play as many games as I can for the team.”

Along with Kelvin Langmead (knee), Chris Hackett (Achilles) and Alex Nicholls (broken leg), Platt is sidelined for the Cobblers’ first game of the season at York City on Saturday.

He is hoping Aidy Boothroyd’s men can get the campaign off to a flyer, but had a reassuring word for the supporters if things don’t go to plan at Bootham Crescent.

“In an ideal world you want to have a great start to the season, but in the past teams have got to Christmas, not even been in the top half, and still got promoted,” said Platt.

“So it does matter to get off to a decent start, but it’s not the be all and end all.

“I am sure if we come together as a team, and I am sure there will be more new additions to the squad, there is more than enough quality and depth here to make sure we can get promoted.”