Coventry City left back Marcus Hall is ready to prove to manager Chris Coleman and the fans that he is recovered from his fitness worries and the death of his father in October.
Since his father's death, Hall has suffered a string of injuries and has only managed to play five games so far this season. Hall has played over 300 games for his home town club. This was meant to be his testimonial season in honour of his long service.
Hall's contract expires in the summer and the 34 year old is out to prove to manager Chris Coleman and chairman Ray Ranson that he still has something to offer the club.
Hall said, “I know that when I am back up to speed that I am as fit as any of the other lads and confident that I can still do a job at this level. I feel I need to get back into the minds of people, whether that is the manager here at Coventry or elsewhere. It has been a very difficult season for me in terms of losing my dad but I have got my head straight now and I just need to get fit and remind people what I can do.
“I came through 45 minutes in the reserves on Tuesday and will now hopefully step up my fitness work because I am obviously a little bit behind the others at the minute after missing so much football. It has been very frustrating because I have been trying to come back but I had a calf strain and then a groin injury, just niggly injuries, but I know that when I am fit I can run as long and hard as the best of them.”
When Hall is fully match fit and available for selection, he will have a specialist left back and will be able to use stand in left back Martin Cranie elsewhere. Hall thinks that Cranie has done well playing out of position, “I think Martin has been doing an excellent job but I know from my experience of playing at right-back that it is difficult playing on the opposite side and it can limit how you get forward. I know the manager is looking to strengthen at left-back and I thoroughly understand that.
"There is not a lot I can do about that but what I can do is get back to full fitness and show that I can do a good job for the club.I would love to sign another year for the club but that is out of my hands to a certain extent. I am just determined to get my body back up to speed and this week’s reserve game was the first step to doing that and hopefully I will be ready to make myself available in the next couple of weeks.I know the season is getting on but if I can prove to the manager that I am fit and ready then it might make him think twice.”
Marcus Hall spoke briefly about the departure of Leon Best, “Everyone knew Leon wasn’t going to sign another contract so it was inevitable that he would go at some stage. It is a good move for him and I think he will do well at Newcastle. He has done ever so well for us this season and it was a shame that we couldn’t keep him, but the atmosphere among the lads is as good as ever. We are a pretty close bunch and are always upbeat.”
Hall was disappointed that Coventry could only manage a draw against Blackpool at the Ricoh last week and is looking forward to Saturday's game against Bristol City. Hall said, “It is a shame we couldn’t get the win against Blackpool because that would have moved us up and I think that once we have broken that line we will go from strength to strength,”