There is no chance of any malingering in the Valley Parade treatment room.
Not with the ever-vocal Michael Flynn bouncing around the place.
Long-suffering physio Damian Buck could be excused for thinking that he has gone deaf now that he doesn’t have to share the same four walls with the extrovert Welshman every day.
But Flynn believes the barrage of banter has been his secret weapon in getting City’s other long-term casualties back to fitness without any more delay.
“It hasn’t been quiet in the physio room, believe me,” he laughed.
“Damian is really pleased I’m able to start doing ball work again because I’ve absolutely terrorised him.
“He ran out of cotton wool a long time ago. His ears have gone past the bleeding stage – he’s straight down to the raw ear drum!
“Simon (Ramsden) has had enough too. That’s why he can’t wait for the next couple of weeks to get out training.
“But I like to think I’m also a positive for the club. I’m getting people out of the treatment room as quick as I can!”
With Flynn, Ramsden and Lewis Hunt edging towards the comeback trail, Buck can hopefully look forward to a bit of a breather.
Flynn believes the medic has certainly earned it after putting in overtime to deal with the constant casualty list that has dogged Peter Taylor’s plans over the first half of the campaign.
“I take my hat off to Damian because he’s been brilliant to work with,” said Flynn.
“It’s been frustrating for me because of the infection I got. That put me back again, otherwise I might have been involved now ahead of schedule.
“Damian has done so much work even though he’s been massively busy.
“At one point when I was off with the infection, he actually had 14 people in (the treatment room).
“That’s hard going at any level, especially because you’ve still got to see the lads who are training as well as the youth team.”
Flynn’s frustration reached breaking point when an infection set in after his groin operation. Having seen his season restricted to an abortive half-hour appearance at Hartlepool in October, it was a setback that threatened to push him over the edge.
But he got his head back in order after taking up the offer to meet patients at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford.
Flynn explained: “I was really down, especially after the op and then getting the infection. I was so bored at home and couldn’t really get out of bed for weeks.
“But since I’ve been back at the club, I’ve been up to Marie Curie and that gives you a different perspective on life. It makes you realise what really matters.
“I’ve suffered cancer fatalities in the past in the family and know the effect it can have. I just wanted to go up there to remind myself how lucky I am.
“I’d been talking to Brian Curran, the manager, who was keen for me to go up and just have a look around. I’m really glad I did.
“It’s always nice to put a smile on somebody’s face – but I think, after talking to the people there, they actually put a bigger smile on mine.”
And that grin has grown broader as the postponements keep mounting up. The weather continues to wreak havoc with the fixtures but Flynn is not complaining.
After five months stuck on the sidelines, he could be coming back at just the right time.
“The more games called off, the better for me,” he said.
“I know it’s a bit frustrating for the fans with games getting called off. But sorry fans, I just want to play as much as I can.”
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