PICTURE: George Davidson

Injuries are the curse of every footballer, from Sunday League to Premier League.
Often cropping up at just the wrong time, they disrupt rhythm, dismantle fitness levels and send control and passing radars astray. So when Morpeth Town midfielder Ben Sayer went under the knife for hernia surgery following the 6-0 win at Penrith in October, in which he scored late on in typically energetic fashion by chasing down the Penrith defence, he knew it wouldn’t be plain sailing.
Time spent in the gym with sports therapist Steven Shaw saw him recover his mobility, but stepping on to a football pitch and finding your groove again is another matter entirely. It is perhaps no surprise then that the cultured midfielder is still finding his true form and a style of play that earned him EBAC Northern League Player of the Year last season.
“Fitness-wise, after the injury, I was flying then we had a break without a game,” said the 24-year-old.
“It took a little getting used to after that. My touch is just about getting there. I’m probably about 10% off what I should be. Fitness is alright, sharpness is getting there. I just feel touch-wise, and affecting the game, I need to get that back.”
With six goals this season, the former Newcastle United academy graduate is looking to add more from his central role alongside captain Keith Graydon. Although he has only scored twice since the start of October, the Morpeth midfielder believes the team as a collective is hitting all the targets required for a successful campaign.
With an unlikely quadruple still on for The Highwaymen – League Cup, Techflow Group Senior Cup and Division One – following their Cleator Cup success at the start of the season, Sayer is sure his side has what it takes.
“I think the team is where they should be now,” he continued.
“We grind out results and we do play some good football. We go forward with pace and we’re using everyone now. We’re at the perfect stage for where we need to be to win the competitions we’re in. It really doesn’t bother me if we go 4-4-2 or 4-3-3; it depends who we are up against. If they have got a flat back-four then you want some pace in behind. If they want to push their full-backs up you want to leave two in the middle.”
The ex-Spennymoor player has been captain for a stint when Graydon was out injured and he admitted it was a good feeling to lead his side out.
“Being captain for that short period of time has been spot on,” added Sayer.
“It is nice to be well thought of. But I’ve got to get my performances up to what a captain should be doing.”