Ben Chrisene reflects on his tough road back to fitness.

Ben Chrisene, Norwich City’s left defender, noticed the symmetry at Ewood Park on Saturday.

His first City start of the new Championship season occurred on the same pitch as his final appearance last year, when a hard tackle from Emmanuel Dennis resulted in an ankle injury that sidelined him until pre-season.

Chrisene has been working hard to regain full fitness, and his return to the squad coincided with a formation change that allowed Norwich to leave Lancashire with a valuable three points while also ending a difficult personal phase for the 21-year-old.

“It was a long period,” Chrisene acknowledges. “It was really frustrating for me because I was only here for a short time, and then getting injured in that game was even more frustrating because I ended up being out for five or six months.” “I worked hard to get back.

It all comes full circle when my first league start of the season arrives; I return and play, and it’s a credit to the manager for trusting me to fill that role and play the entire game, because the fitness side of things is difficult when you come back from injury.

“The lads, especially Vlad and H next to me, they pulled me through even at the end of the game, so it’s been good but it’s also been tough.” Chrisene’s early-season form has resulted in a late call-up to the England U21 squad.

The defender credits the squad’s unity, fostered by head coach Liam Manning since his arrival, with helping him get through a difficult phase.

Ben Chrisene’s season ended in March due to an injury suffered away at Blackburn.

(Image by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.) “I’ve had a few injuries, but not as long-term as that, so I think from a mental side of things, it’s harder than actually physically, but there’s a great support network at the club,” Chrisene told the Pink Un newspaper.

“They’ve helped me get through, and as I previously stated, the team morale is now so high that even when you’re struggling with those things, everyone else picks you up and drags you through it, which is great to be a part of.

“The manager mentioned that we needed to stick together, and that is exactly what has happened since they arrived in pre-season. The most important thing is that we have developed a genuine sense of teamwork. We’re headed in the right direction.”

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