401 The Pride of a Professional Footballer (1/2)

The joy of victory brought back from Glasgow had not even dissipated before Twain received another piece of good news.

”Are you sure?” asked Twain as he stared at Fleming, the team doctor, in his office.

Fleming nodded his head, ”I'm certain.”

When Twain heard him say so, he looked down at the stack of papers in his hands again.

It was the latest report on Eastwood's physical recovery. The team's medical unit did a follow-up observation of Eastwood's body. They checked him every day to keep on top of it.

The conclusions drawn from the report were gratifying.

”We all agreed that after more than a month of recovery and training, Eastwood has reached the requirements of being able to play in a formal game.

Even though Eastwood had already trained with the team these days, Twain had not been able to send the Romani Gypsy to play in a game without the doctor's say-so.

Twain turned to look out the window at the training ground. Eastwood was in training with the team.

”Have you told him yet?”

Fleming shook his head. ”We had to inform you first.”

”Okay…”

”However, although his body is able to cope with competing, his fitness is still not good enough for him to play for ninety minutes.”

”Of course.” Twain nodded and said, ”Forget ninety minutes, even forty-five minutes will be impossible. Let him get used to the pace and feeling of playing in a game first....”

Fleming nodded in agreement.

Twain rose from his seat and walked out with Fleming.

This was the last day of training before the next competition, and Twain needed to announce the starting lineup for the game.

※※※

The day's training was over, and everyone could relax. Eastwood was joking with his teammates. With him around on the team, there was more laughter than before. He was a likable young man who could enliven the mood.

Twain and Fleming walked onto the training ground. Eastwood was called over by Fleming, and everyone knew that it must have something to do with him.

”I'm going to announce the starting list for tomorrow's game.” Twain flapped the piece of paper in his hands and everyone on the training ground quietened down.

”The goalkeeper is Edwin van der Sar. The fullbacks are Sun Jihai, Bale, Chimbonda, Piqué, and Pepe. The midfielders are Wood, Demetrio, Ribéry, Young, Lennon, and Arteta. The strikers are...” Twain looked up at the crowd when he read to this point.

”Anelka.”

The Frenchman smiled lightly as he was not surprised. He was now the first striker in the team. Wouldn't it be a joke if I couldn't get in the starting list?

”And Bendtner.”

The Danish teenager was also used to getting on the main list and starting lineup. Due to Eastwood's injury this season, he had received more opportunities for appearances. Although he scored less than Anelka, he also seized quite a good number of opportunities to score.

As expected, the two players would be the starting strikers in tomorrow's game.

In the previous Champions League game, Anelka and Viduka were the starting forwards. On that occasion, Twain had preferred Viduka's experience in the European arena. However, Twain needed Bendtner's drive and stamina in the domestic league.

Twain had already reported fifteen names out of the sixteen players on the main list. The one remaining name should be the substitute striker.

Twain put aside the list and looked at everyone as he said the last player's name, ”And Eastwood.”

Whistles could be heard from the team.

When Eastwood heard his name, he stared wide-eyed at his teammates, who congratulated him. He could not believe it himself.

※※※

”According to the official lists that we have just received from both teams, we found that the Forest striker, Freddy Eastwood, who had been absent for ten months due to his injury, has appeared on it.”

”Ten months… In all honesty, I'm curious as to whether Eastwood can return to his former state. Just look the changes in Ronaldo before and after his injury. The Forest fans will not want to hear what I have to say, but I still have to say that I'm not optimistic about Eastwood's future career.” As the guest commentator for this match, Mark Lawrenson was doomed to be hated by the fans of the Forest team.

John Motson, in charge of the commentary, cleared his throat. ”Mark, this is not the BBC's Match of the Day program.”

Lawrenson shrugged. ”Nobody likes to hear the truth. For a player who underwent three surgeries on his right knee within two years, I think it's too hard to get back to his former playing condition. It's almost impossible. I'm very touched by Manager Twain's concern for his players, but I think he should consider introducing one or two strikers to the team this summer.”

His remark was actually quite tactful. What Lawrenson meant was that Twain should give up Eastwood and look for a new striker to replace the Romani Gypsy's position on the team.

Motson shook his head. ”I don't think Manager Twain will do as you say.”

”Professional football is cruel. Very cruel.” Lawrenson shrugged. ”It's already a miracle that Eastwood is back on the field. I think the Forest fans should be happy that they're able to see him at the City Ground stadium.”

Motson was unwilling to admit it out loud, but he could not help but think that Lawrenson was right in what he had said. Aside from the emotional factors, Eastwood really could not return to his former self after going through such a serious injury. How could he play as if nothing had happened? His body could not support such fierce confrontation with his condition in doubt. Therefore, how would Tony Twain face that problem?

Would he seek a replacement for Eastwood during the summer transfer market? Or would he continue to use the Romani Gypsy, who did not know when his body would go wrong?

Would he be responsible towards the player? Or would he be responsible towards the club? What else could he feel responsible for?

While Lawrenson commented on Eastwood, Twain was in the locker room assigning tasks to his players and did not hear his comments. Otherwise, he might have flipped out on Lawrenson right on the spot.

As he looked at the manager arranging the specific tasks for each member of the starting lineup in the locker room, Eastwood sat aside. Even though there was nothing for him, he still smiled.

He enjoyed everything about this. He had not heard the chief's spirited speech in the locker room for ten months.

So even if he was just an audience, it did not matter to him. He did not care if he was not allowed to play, as long as he was here and in the sixteen players' list. It meant that he was a member of the team and no one had abandoned him. He did not care what the outside world thought about his re-entry to the game's name list, because the decision did not come from the people out there. It was made by the manager and teammates here.

Sitting in the locker room, listening to the chief talk, watching him vigorously wave his arm to inspire morale, his spittle almost seemed to spray towards the ceiling ...All of that already felt a little unfamiliar.

”In the first half of the league tournament, we lost to Newcastle United. Today, it's their turn to taste the same! We'll show them, boys!” Twain grinned and clenched his fist.

※※※

Eastwood sat on the substitutes' bench, surrounded by the media. They aligned their cameras and camera lenses towards Eastwood, wearing his jacket. As a player who had returned after ten months from his injury, it was perhaps just as Lawrenson had said: Regardless of whether he could return to his former state, it was already an enormous victory for him to be able to re-appear on the sidelines.

The media was focused on him now. It was admirable to be able to stand up again after three knee surgeries in two years. As to whether he could still play football...

Everyone tacitly refrained from discussing it——Is there a need to make it awkward for him? Isn't it obvious? Just ask the Nottingham Forest supporters. How many people would naively think that their ”Romani Rooney” can keep scoring goals for the team to win? Perhaps the most they will say is: ”We're just glad to see him again.”

Everyone in the City Ground stands happily gazed at Eastwood sitting on the substitutes' bench, wrapped in a thick coat. But underneath their happy facades, there was probably pity.

He's unable to get back to the top, so he can only be a substitute. We're satisfied that he can still be here and occasionally play on the field.

On camera, Eastwood smiled at the reporters in front of him, and then he looked past them to turn his attention on the field. The game was about to start.

※※※

After the game started, Eastwood stopped smiling. He stared at the field with a serious expression. It was one of concentration.

He wanted to familiarize himself with the rhythm of the game as soon as possible. He wanted to be acquainted with the atmosphere and the feel of the game. He did not know when he would get the chance to play. It could be this game, or maybe the next one, or the one after the next. But he firmly believed that he would play. And when that time came, he wanted to show his strength. He did not have the luxury to wait until his warm-up before a game to get the feel of the game.

Eastwood was aware of his current situation. Due to his health, the chief could not give him too much time. If he did not seize the opportunity within the limited time, then what was the point of him? What team would keep a loser? No matter how deep their friendship was, there would still come a day when the contract expired.

Eastwood had signed a five-year contract with Nottingham Forest. Two years had already passed. It was customary for the club to sit with the player and the player's agents a year before the contract would expire to discuss the renewal issue if both parties had the intention to renew. In other words, there were still two years to determine Eastwood's future. Those two years were not too short or too long.

The Romani Gypsy knew that he could not go back to the way he had been before his injury. He had to make some changes if he still wanted to survive in professional football. Before, he could rely on his skills and speed to do a good job. Perhaps he would need to rely more on his brains than his legs in the future.

And he was going to start from this point on.

Eastwood rested his chin on his hand and carefully observed the players on the field, mentally outlining a new plan for himself in his mind.

※※※

The game progressed smoothly. Nottingham Forest dominated Newcastle United and Anelka scored a goal during the first half. The French striker had already scored thirteen goals and was ranked fourth in the league's top goalscorer list behind the Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, and the Chelsea midfielder, Frank Lampard. That was unexpected for those who had opposed the introduction of Anelka before this season.

In this game, Twain made some localized rotations, such as replacing Chimbonda with Sun Jihai as the starting right back and Leighton Baines with Gareth Bale as the starting left back. Sun Jihai and Bale were both stronger in offense than defense. Twain's intention was clear. He wanted to attack on their home ground and defeat Newcastle United with offense.

Before the game, Twain told two players, Sun Jihai and Bale, to press on and assist as boldly as possible. They did not have to worry about the defense. There was George Wood, who could handle two players' job alone. What's there to be afraid of? Just boldly press on!

During the game, those two players really played according to Twain's instructions. The repeated plugins and assists from the fullbacks made Newcastle United's defensive line unable to defend effectively, causing them a huge headache.

Originally, the Forest team's two wingers were already very powerful. Attacks from the flanks had always been the Forest team's characteristic and tradition. And now, in addition to the assists from the wingers, the Forest team's two full backs also unleashed their strength. The tide was coming in wave after wave, and the waves were relentless.

And what about George Wood? Keeping watch at the rear, he could be seen in every corner of the rear half of the field. Sometimes he acted as the fullback and sometimes he entered the penalty area as the center back to lift the siege with a header. Most of the time, he was of course in the midfield to block the counterattacks from Newcastle United.

Newcastle United had initially thought to obtain one point at the City Ground stadium, which would be considered a victory for them. Instead, they were overtaken. In this way, if they did not attack, they would leave Nottingham in defeat. But if they did attack, they might continue to lose control of the ball. The Forest team's aggressive offense in the game made them hesitate.

Even though Newcastle United had a world-class striker like Owen, he had no way out when faced with the more forceful George Wood. Wood's rough defense naturally made Owen's supporters loudly abuse him. However, as long as the referee did not cry foul on the field, these were defensive actions allowed by the rules.

”Let's take a look at Owen. After he came to Newcastle United, he was often injured. He's no longer what he used to be.” Lawrenson was also a former Liverpool player. With his remarks, one might think that his previous comment about Eastwood might have had nothing to do with the feud between him and Twain.

”As a lean and weaker center forward, it was impossible not to be injured after having to frequently meet the other strong defensive players head to head. If Owen continues to play this way, he will suffer more injuries.”

Lawrenson calmly analyzed Owen's current situation and future. But to the Nottingham Forest fans, it sounded as if he was talking about Eastwood's present and future.

On the field, George Wood successfully defended against Michael Owen, whose condition was in decline due to his injuries. Once an agile young kid and England's golden boy, when faced with Wood, he could only walk away with his head bowed and panting for his breath after a hasty shot. Based on the stubble around his chin, it was hard to tell if this was Owen's new style or if he had no time to take care of his looks.

A lot of people did not how to feel when they saw that scene. Eastwood, whom the Nottingham Forest fans were once so fond of, would become like this someday soon.

The Forest team had the overall advantage in the first half and repeatedly threatened the Newcastle United's goal.

When they heard the whistle to end the first half, Eastwood and his teammates on the substitutes' bench stood up and chatted delightfully about the first half of the game. With the team leading, everyone felt very relaxed.

The television broadcast gave Twain a close-up shot, and then turned to the substitutes' bench to fix the shot on Eastwood's face. It followed him until he entered the players' tunnel.

During the halftime interval, Twain did not say anything except to praise the players for their first-half performance and encourage them to maintain it for the second half.

Everyone was in high spirits. It seemed quite easy to take down the second half. Eastwood just sat in front of his locker, laughing as he watched everyone.

※※※

When the second half of the game started, it was clear that Newcastle United did not want to leave Nottingham that way. They stepped up their offense. It was not a change in their formation or lineup, but their firm determination. They were determined to regain the situation in the second half.

The game was not going to end as easily as Nottingham Forest had imagined.

Twain had to make some adjustments.

Firstly, he replaced Arteta with Albertini to use the veteran's experience to stabilize the midfield. Then he brought Aaron Lennon on to replace Ashley Young to continue strengthening the offense on the flanks.