BEN Fox and Callum Hawkins made huge steps in their recovery from ACL injuries picked up early in the 2019-20 season, after playing in a friendly against Port Vale under-23s.
Callum started in goal alongside Ben, who played 60 minutes in an impressive performance at right back for the Brewers’ side which saw them draw 1-1 with the Vale.
Fox said: “I feel really good. The legs feel good and it was great to get out there with the boys.
“It has been a while since we actually played together and it’s been a long time coming.”
Fox made a number of surging runs forward and was unlucky not to score in the first half after his low drive was cleared off the line.
Fox is an Academy graduate for the Brewers and made his debut against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
He scored his first goal for Albion almost a year on from making his debut against Cardiff City.
But he rates his injury as the hardest thing to deal with in his career so far.
Fox said: “It’s been my most difficult challenge and it puts into perspective a lot of things. Obviously doing your cruciate in your knee, there’s not much worse you can go through as a footballer.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the people I have around me. Everyone has rallied around me and the boys were just as buzzing as I was and that means a lot to me.”
Fox was named on the bench for the 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers, the first time he has been a part of Nigel Clough’s matchday squad this season since picking up the injury against Matlock Town in pre-season.
And the wait has made it hard for Fox to get back into the swing of things and battle back to full fitness.
He said: “The first few months were definitely the toughest. It was day-by-day and it was about setting small targets and going again.
"It was something as small as straightening my leg or tensing my quad and since I got back on the pitch, things have flown by.
"I feel more like a footballer again instead of a gym rat.”
The Brewers take on Wycombe this Saturday and Fox will be hoping to a part of Nigel Clough’s plans.