INTERVIEW: Morris Looks Ahead to Hull Trip

Carlton Morris admits his delight at returning to action as he previews Derby County’s trip to Hull City on Tuesday night.

Morris was the Championship’s leading scorer when he picked up an injury during the game at Pride Park against Watford last November.

The Rams’ marksman suffered a knock to his lower leg, keeping him out of action for three months.

He made a welcome return against Swansea City, appearing as a late substitute in a 2-0 victory on Valentine’s Day.

He was again used off the bench at Vicarage Road against Watford, increasing his minutes on the pitch - hopefully with a view to picking up where he left off during the rest of the campaign.

Morris sat down with RamsTV to reflect on his time on the sidelines, the season so far and look ahead to the trip to Humberside.

On being part of the first-team squad again

I’m buzzing. I went through a stage of compartmentalising what happened to me. It was left in a box at the back of my head about how much I missed playing, but now I’m out there getting minutes under my belt, I’ve started to remember how much it all means to me.

I'm so happy to be back out there. I went through the stage of focusing on my rehabilitation, getting my gym stuff done properly. The medical team were outstanding. They got me into an even better position than I was before, physically. So, I'm excited to get going again.

On his recovery from injury

What helped helping block things out was suffering quite a serious knee injury when I was in my early 20s. That was the be-all and end-all for me, back then.

At the time, it was devastating for me. I think that taught me a lesson to not get too high with the highs, not to get too low with the lows. I think that experience has been a big help for me in this situation and in situations since then.

On managing his injury problems

It was just an off-the-ball thing - it happens all the time. You've got to be able to take it if you can give it. But the problem was that I wasn't expecting the impact, and there was a little bit of a leg tangle, which you can't really see in the footage as well. That created a bit of an awkward position for my leg and foot to get into.

It affected a ligament in my foot that I didn't even know existed, to be honest. That was one of the issues and a high ankle ligament as well. The guys in the medical department worked so quickly and diligently to get me down to London to be seen by the best guys. They formulated a plan and executed it beautifully.

On his feelings about being absent from the first-team dressing-room

I touched on compartmentalising - and you can do that to a certain extent - but you can’t take yourself away completely from the group.

It's important to stay involved. It's not about me, it's about the whole, it's about the team, it's about the collective. I think you've seen the lads, they've done brilliantly in the last few months.

It's a team that I'm proud to be a part of, a club that I'm proud to be a part of. Now they've left us in a position where we can really attack these last few games.

On mentoring Patrick Agyemang

I've probably learnt as much from him as he has from me, to be honest. He's been excellent, I think. He's obviously a physical specimen, a beast of a man. I love his mentality as well.

He works hard, and he's got tons of ability. What is there not to like? Off the pitch, he's willing to soak up information. I think you can see how much he's improved just this season alone.

Adjusting to Championship football this quickly was something I was never able to do at the start. I think it says a lot about him.

On the current position of the squad and the target for the rest of the season

We touched on it at the start of the season when things weren't going so well. We didn't start exactly how we wanted to, but what I’d say is: Stick with this group. This group's capable of a lot.

I think that's come to fruition in the past four or five months. The performances we've shown, beating teams all over the league at the top and at the bottom, it's about putting that together now because it's the business end of the season.