Starkie return from long lay-off boosts Truro City

Q: What injury did Ben Starkie suffer that kept him out for seven months?

Ben Starkie suffered a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven months.

Q: When did Ben Starkie last play before his return to Truro City?

Ben Starkie last played on September 23, 2022, before returning to action recently.

Q: How did Truro City perform in the match where Ben Starkie returned?

Truro City lost 1-0 to Boston United in the match where Ben Starkie made his return.

Starkie return from long lay-off boosts Truro City

TL;DR

Ben Starkie has made his return to Truro City after a seven-month injury lay-off, coming on as a substitute in a match against Boston United. The 23-year-old midfielder, who is a Tanzania international, previously suffered a serious hamstring injury in September 2022.

Ben Starkie has returned to match fitness after seven months on the sidelines [Shutterstock]

Truro City midfielder Ben Starkie "showed a lot of hunger" as he returned to action for the first time in seven months.

The 23-year-old Tanzania international came on at half-time in Saturday's 1-0 loss at Boston United.

It was his first appearance since suffering a serious hamstring injury at Brackley Town on 23 September.

"I didn't expect to have to put him on for 45 minutes," Truro City manager John Askey told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"I was a little bit concerned by doing that, but he seems to be fine and I thought he's gone on, showed a lot of hunger and caused them one or two problems.

"We need to look at Ben from now until the end of the season, and hopefully he doesn't pick up anything else.

"He's looked sharp in training, he's a very fit lad, with a really, really good attitude."

John Askey's side have scored 40 goals this season - the third-fewest in the National League [Shutterstock]

Starkie's return for already-relegated Truro came as the Tinners suffered a 27th defeat of the season in the National League.

It was an eighth defeat by a single goal in their last nine defeats, with Askey again seeing his players miss good opportunities to score.

"We got good control of the game for long periods, but we haven't been able to make the most of opportunities when we've got balls in good areas," he said.

"Again, we just haven't been able to find the finish or the final ball. I'm repeating myself from what I've been saying game after game and perhaps people say 'why don't you do something about it?'.

"Well you can get the ball into good areas and work at things, but when you get into those areas it's down to individuals and making the most of those opportunities."

Askey added: "It's not down to lack of effort.

"I thought everybody again has had a real good go, but the reason why we're not getting the results is because we're not putting the ball in the back of the net."