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Search forBristol Rovers' Joe Jacobson keen to be involved in derby
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 21:34
Rovers, who are at home, will be wearing a special 'Black Arab' kit for the match as they launch the celebrations to mark their 125th anniversary.
Jacobson missed the first two months of the campaign after damaging knee ligaments during the club's pre-season tour to Scandinavia.
Then, after making four appearances from the bench, he became one of a trio of full-backs who suffered injuries during the 2-1 defeat at Leicester City at the start of this month.
The left-back landed awkwardly and dislocated a rib, which ruled him out of the last couple of matches.
"Until this season I hadn't had anything that had kept me out for more than a game or two," said Jacobson.
"But this one has been frustrating and disappointing for me so far. Hopefully now I'm over it and can kick on again.
"The day after the Leicester game, the rib kept popping in and out with any little movement I was doing. For a couple of days I couldn't do anything – no swimming or any form of exercise. I just had to rest it.
"It's horrible coming into an environment where other people are training and you can't do it, because all you want to do is get involved.
"But I worked hard with our physio Phil Kite last week and did a lot of physical work. Now I'm involved in training again, back fit and ready to play.
"Thankfully now my rib seems to have healed and the work I've been doing hasn't caused any problems."
With Jacobson now off the casualty list – along with centre-backs Steve Elliott and Danny Coles – it means injured David Pipe and suspended Byron Anthony are likely to be the only defenders unavailable to coach Paul Trollope this weekend.
"The team has more or less picked itself over the last few weeks with the amount of injuries that we've had. But now we have a few players coming back and fighting for their places, so it's going to be interesting," said Jacobson.
"Everybody wants to be playing and thinks they should be in the team, but it's down to us to impress the manager in training.
"We've been unfortunate with results over the last few weeks, but we are capable of going on another good run."
Jacobson has a double incentive for getting back to his best, for he is also keen to further his international career.
Though the former Welsh Under-21 skipper is now too old for the principality's youth team, he has his sights set on breaking into the senior ranks under John Toshack.
"I obviously wasn't going to be involved in the Wales game this week because I've hardly had any football this season, but my main priority at the moment is getting back in the Rovers team and doing well. If I can do that, then hopefully football with Wales might follow," he said.
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