Chris Basham is hoping to put a disastrous debut season at Blackpool behind him and focus on 2011/12.
Youngster determined to bounce back stronger next season
Chris Basham is hoping to put a disastrous debut season at Blackpool behind him and focus on 2011/12.
The 22-year-old was snapped up by the Seasiders last summer in a £1million switch from Bolton.
He made his debut for the club in an opening day victory over Wigan, but has endured wretched luck since then.
After struggling to force his way into the first-team picture, he then suffered a broken leg during a reserve run-out.
He is still nursing his way back to full health following that injury, but was included in Ian Holloway's 25-man squad for the second half of the season.
Basham admits it may be expecting too much to figure in the Premier League again this season, but he hopes his Blackpool career can begin in earnest next term.
Frustrating
"It has been a frustrating season from the word go and breaking my leg was the worst thing that could have happened because I was fighting for a place at a new club," he told the
Blackpool Gazette.
"The most annoying thing was that I had started at Aston Villa and felt I had done okay. The manager said so but in the very next match I played I broke my leg.
"It is the worst injury I've had by a mile and touch wood nothing like that ever happens again. Sometimes I feel it after a game, so it's all about preparing right and getting used to having a plate in my leg.
"But I am still only 22 and I've got plenty of experience in this league from when I was at Bolton, so I need to keep my head up. Hopefully we'll stay up and everything will be brighter next season.
"That's my main aim now - to give it a good go pre-season and come back fighting for a first-team spot."
Confidence
For now, Basham is working on his match sharpness in the Seasiders' reserves and hopes a few positive outings for the second string will see him catch Holloway's eye.
"It has felt good to be back playing again in recent weeks and I'm starting to enjoy my football again," he added.
"It would be nice to get back in the first-team set-up before the end of the season but it will be difficult because the lads are still playing really well. We've let a few late goals in but the performances have been great.
"To make the odd squad and travel with the boys again would put a good smile on my face, because being young you can get down quite quickly and easily. That has been my main problem really."
