SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Thompson's presence will provide power and pace, insists Knill
ONE of the biggest concerns for Scunthorpe United next season will be the fitness of striker Garry Thompson.
Manager Alan Knill has long been an admirer of the 31-year-old.
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REBUILDING: Iron midfielder Garry Thompson.
He tried to sign him on loan for Bury at a time when Thompson found himself out of the team at Glanford Park.
And he desperately wants the former Morecambe man to play a key role in League One for United.
But Thompson has been dogged by injury in each of his three seasons at Scunthorpe so far.
He managed just 16 league starts as the Iron won promotion from League One through the play-offs in 2008-09.
He started only 22 games the following season at Championship level – and made only four starts last term as the club were relegated from the second tier of English football.
Thompson is now back working in the gym, recovering from the second of two operations he has had this year and hoping to be ready for the start of pre-season training at the end of June.
"Garry offers us something we have not got at the moment – pace and power," said Knill.
"I saw him a lot while he was playing at Morecambe.
"I have always liked him as a player.
"I made some inquiries to see if we could take him while I was at Bury, but Nigel Adkins always said no.
"After missing most of last season, Garry knows the next one is a big one for him.
"We have to make sure he comes back in good health and we have to make sure he can stay in good health.
"But at the same time it is up to us to manage his fitness, so we have to be careful as well."
Knill is pleased with the attitude he has already seen from Thompson.
"When you look in the gym, he is always in there working hard," said the Scunthorpe boss.
"We are hoping that when the players return, he will be fitter than the others."
But after so many setbacks last season, before finally undergoing surgery to try to repair his groin problems, Thompson knows he has to tread carefully this summer.
And Knill is keeping his options open as to which role to play him in.
"I don't like pigeon-holing players into one position," said Knill.
"Garry is a player who can operate anywhere across the front line.
"Hopefully he can be a big player for us in League One next season."
12 Comments
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by ironone
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 5:55PM
“I wonder if AK has had a look at Kevan Hurst ? i know that he said that he only wants babys but he is only 26 and plays on the left either in midfield or up front and he was reliesed this season.”
by bufferdude
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 5:24PM
“A good player with lots of promise”
by thebigbash
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 4:54PM
“Tommo a big powerful lad , but not reliable , i wish him well but fear the worse,
its new fresh blood we needed at this club and that includes a new board with fresh ideas and new money .”
by thebigbash
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 4:50PM
“theres a lot to prove from players the board and the manager this year , the jury is very much out for me on Tommo , a big powerful lad yes , reliable ? not so far , i wish him all the best but fear the worse .”
by HughZoff
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 2:04PM
“Not a naysayer or anything like that. I just have a brain and a memory - it's all you need along with a penchant for looking for the truth in the written word. SUFC has more smoke and mirrors than a funfair on fire.
By the way when do you think the new stand will be built? Who do you think we will buy with the £600k we bid for Connor Sammon?
Three wasted seasons to get back to where the weather suits our clothes.”
by norevlov
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 1:28PM
“I feel bad for any club that has supporters like you HughZoff, why are you even here? According to your own opinions the club is dropping so if you are indeed correct then you like supporting a failing club? That says about the same as if you were wrong and were just a kind of person that likes to make out everything is doom and gloom, a naysayer. So which is it, someone that likes to wallow in self afflicted gloom or a naysayer?”
by HughZoff
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 12:04PM
“Mmmmm - indeed how many players flourished whilst here but nowhere else. McCann had his moments but they were infrequent and I have no doubt his better moments are stored in peoples selective memory.
In recent history lets add Hayes to Eddie's list, a player crowbarred out whilst we were still in the Championship but done nothing. Woolford, crowbarred out in January but what is he doing now?
Not having a pop at Knilly or the players Thorpe27, where do you get that from (a fabrication as normal from the Clappers) ? We missed Thommo last season as much as we missed having a real manager, Paul Hayes, Woolford and even McCann. We will not go back up next season or several seasons after that. That much I can guarantee. The chairman has been moulding the club to be out of the Championship for nearly two years now. People like yourself find that impossible to see.
By the way - Keep typing in capitals as that is the only way you may get attention.”
by AnonTaxPayer
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 11:55AM
“EddieMurphy. What you say is correct.
With particular reference to McCann: He has the skills but with the Iron on numerous occasions his lack of defensive tackling and more player/ball watching resulted in our defence being put under unecessary pressure and goals being scored. A player we could not afford to keep with those attributes.”
by EddieMurphy
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 10:55AM
“Interesting Thorpey - who are all these players that have flourished away from the Brownsword Stadium? Jim Goodwin? Ben May? Marcus Williams? Even a good few of those that were fan favourites when they were with us jumped ship and regretted it (Andy Butler, for one). I can't think of many that weren't "appreciated" when they were here that went on to great things, as you seem to be suggesting. McCann was always a good player - that was never in question. What was in question was the consistency of his performances. No point having a potentially top player in your team if they only show their value every 4 or 5 games. The failing was not in letting him go, it was in failing to make any attempt to replace him with someone of equal experience but better consistency.”
by thorpe27
Tuesday, May 31 2011, 10:35AM
“WHY ALL THE DOOM AND GLOOM. HAS P.DOFF NOW GOT RELATIVES ON THIS SITE. BY THE WAY CONGRATS TO GRANT MCCANN,. YET ANOTHER PLAYER SLATED CONSTANTLY BY MANY. IF YOU KEEP HACKING AWAY AT SOMEONE THEY ARE BOUND TO BE AFFECTED. REMEMBER THIS FOR NEXT SEASON. AMAZING HOW MANY PLAYERS HAVE BLOSSOMED ONCE THEY HAVE LEFT THE CYNICAL GLANFORDIANS. WE ALL KNOW MANY MISTAKES WERE MADE LAST YEAR WITH THE CHAIRMAN ADMITTING AS MUCH, AND IF WE DON'T GO BACK UP NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE REGRETTED EVEN MORE SO. GIVE KNILLY AND CO A CHANCE,EH?”