The N17 faithful received a superb emotional lift this week as a dynamic attacking star reached a major milestone on her long recovery road ahead of next season.
Tottenham Hotspur Women forward Jess Naz has handed manager Martin Ho a massive boost by finally returning to the grass at Hotspur Way. The 25-year-old attacker has been sidelined since sustaining a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury during a competitive fixture against Aston Villa back in December.
The loss of the dangerous number seven significantly impacted the North Londoners’ offensive rotation. Naz underwent surgery later that month and has spent recent months engaging in an intensive gym program to successfully rebuild muscle and prepare for her eventual return to competitive action.
The talented forward spoke openly about the immense physical hurdles she faced during the early stages of rehabilitation. Naz noted that having surgery in the first couple of weeks is tough due to the pain, along with small challenges like learning to contract the quads and walk again.
Technical staff and teammates rally around the resilient forward during rehabilitation
This familiar battle has required total dedication from the explosive forward who previously suffered the same injury at just 18 years old. That prior experience ahead of the top-flight campaign has provided vital psychological perspective during this challenging period.
“The main thing is just the mindset,” Naz explained to club media at a recent community event. She added that doing it at such a young age means you do not really know how it will go, but she is learning that she is much stronger than she thought.
The support from the entire squad has remained incredibly strong throughout this process. Ho immediately spoke with the emotional winger after the initial injury occurred, while the dedicated players have consistently cheered her on during each of her exhausting everyday training sessions.
“Things are going well,” Naz stated regarding her current progress on the pitch. She has put all her trust in the dedicated medical staff to ensure she successfully returns to a great place ahead of the highly anticipated upcoming domestic campaign very soon.