Last updated at 12:42, Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Carlisle United striker Rory Loy faces a big mental challenge as he prepares to end his long injury lay-off, according to boss Greg Abbott.

Rory Loy

The Blues manager says the Scot is still “unsure” about launching himself back into the thick of action after recovering from a broken leg.

Loy is hoping to be fully fit and ready for the start of the 2012/13 campaign, when Carlisle’s opening league game could pit the forward against the man who inflicted his injury.

Preston defender David Gray – whose challenge on Boxing Day ended Loy’s 2011/12 season – has now signed for Stevenage, who host United on the first weekend of term on August 18.

Abbott said Loy must be carefully managed through pre-season, which starts on July 5, and says the biggest challenge for the ex-Rangers man to overcome will be psychological.

“Rory’s injury has healed properly but it’s his head that’s a bit awash at the minute in terms of making that first tackle and that first run,” said Abbott.

“Dolly [physio Neil Dalton] has said that in his own mind he is a little bit unsure. So we are going to be a little bit more careful with him.

“Hopefully, when he gets in amongst the lads and he’s not training on his own, that fear will ease away because he can forget about it with all the other players chomping at the bit around him.”

Loy burst onto the scene for United in the first half of last season and had established himself as a first-team regular until the fateful afternoon at Deepdale.

There is now an opportunity for the 24-year-old to reclaim his place in the Blues’ attack after Francois Zoko’s departure from Brunton Park.

Abbott, meanwhile, says his other injured players will be in perfect shape to start pre-season and press their claims for a starting place.

Lee Miller (groin) and Chris Chantler (hamstring) missed the closing weeks of last season.

But Abbott said: “Lee is absolutely fine and Chris is great, so we should start off with a clean bill.”

JColman@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk