Most players returning from an eight-month injury lay-off would say they are making up for lost time when they finally get back on the pitch.
But that would imply that not playing for so long is a negative. What if that setback could be turned into a wholly positive experience?
“I wouldn’t refer to it as lost time,” says Manchester City under-18 midfielder Isaiah Dada-Mascoll. “The time I have been injured has been vital for me to understand my body more. It’s given me more discipline as well. It’s time to go again.”
Dada-Mascoll ended last season well. He was part of the under-18s side who won a fourth-straight league title and who suffered a heartbreaking FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates, playing almost all of the 120 minutes with 10 players. His coaches described his season as ‘outstanding’. And then injury hit.
“It’s been such a journey considering I got injured at the end of August,” he tells MEN Sport. “I prepared as much as I could in the gym, doing stuff with the physios and sports scientists. The tempo is high but I’m ready for it.
“It’s definitely improved me mentally, taking priority over my structure and mobility. Nutrition-wise, what my body needs before and after games on matchdays. Recovery, ice baths. All these things that enhance performance on the pitch and reduce the risk of injury. It’s been very important for me to pick things up. As I’ve been injured, the importance of these things has increased.”
The likeable 17-year-old is keen to use that time away from the pitch to his advantage, describing how he could see what needed to change as he sat on the bench on his return recently – before trotting back over the white line and helping City find a winner to reach the FA Youth Cup final.
As well as his work to improve as a player, Dada-Mascoll has also given time to his studies. He is one of the few City players taking his A Levels in the coming weeks.
“I do sociology and English Literature,” he explains. “Managing it is not easy, but considering we have a substantial amount of free time, it’s just being wise with what I choose to do in my spare time.
“I don’t see it as a pressure, I see it as an opportunity to play football. The majority of the lads do BTECs. There’s four or five people who do A Levels, some people have already done them. Jaden Heskey has done A Level business, Justin [Oboavwoduo] does economics. Ezra [Carrington] is doing Spanish.
“I also picked up reading [while injured]. The majority of the days, I read my bible. It fills me with wisdom and encourages me and leads me.”
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