Grant Holt delighted to step up recovery following long-term injury layoff

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 17 September 2015

Grant Holt says that he is glad to be back playing football for Wigan Athletic's development side, with a first-team return now in the pipeline.

Wigan Athletic striker Grant Holt has admitted that he is 'really enjoying' his football as he continues his recovery from a long-term layoff.

The 34-year-old has spent the last nine months on the sidelines due to a cruciate ligament injury picked up on loan at Huddersfield Town.

Holt played a further 80 minutes for the Latics' development squad on Wednesday afternoon - his third run-out in the same number of weeks - and is now closing in on a first-team return.

Speaking to the club's official website after the 2-2 draw against Port Vale, the much-travelled forward said: "I really enjoyed it. We're quite fortunate here that we've got a lot of young lads who like to work hard and they don't like getting beat.

"Every game you play in this team, especially with Pete [Atherton] in charge, is taken very seriously and you know that the lads aren't just going through the motions, they're going out to win. I think you can see with the game yesterday that the lads didn't get bullied against a big strong side.

"We're gutted not to get the win because of the position we were in at half time, but all-in-all it's good to be back and getting even more time out there. Personally the most important thing is to be playing and getting fit, but the attitude has to be right as well, and the only way I can do that is by trying to excel at every level and doing my bit for the team."

Holt's last competitive appearance came in December 2014 during his loan stint at the John Smith's Stadium.