Sumner returns to Chch

Press, 19 May 1982, Page 52

Sumner returns to Chch

The New Zealand soccer captain, Steve Sumner, was back in Christchurch yesterday, suffering from a broken jaw and finding it far from comfortable to speak. An elbow in the jaw when playing against the League of Ireland last Sunday caused the injury, one which will certainly prevent Sumner from playing against Watford in Christchurch this Sunday and may stop him from being available for two other games against that team next week. Sumner said last evening that he knew something was amiss straight away after receiving the blow, even though the injury was only, diagnosed yesterday. "Where the jaw is broken, the bones are still lined and not jagged and I’m leaving it like that. If it doesn’t mend I suppose it will have to be wired” said Sumner. Sumner has taken his injury philosophically and is prepared to wait and hope for the best. Yet the determined streak inside the experienced English-born 26-year-old mid-fielder was borne out by his next remark: “If it had been the World Cup tomorrow or the day after I would have a go. Nothing is really at stake in these present games, I’d be silly to try it.” Sumner was examined by a dental surgeon in Invercargill after the match there against the League of Ireland and had X-rays taken. He was informed that he should be careful for two weeks although he was quick to ask if he could play witbin one week. At this stage, there is uncertainty over the length of time that the New Zealand captain will be off the playing paddock, but he is fully aware of the big goal on the horizon and is not going to risk himself until cleared. Sumner’s injury, coupled with a tendon injury to his mid-field partner, Duncan Cole, has posed problems for the team’s manager, John Adshead. Sumner missed training yesterday and Mr Adshead described Sumner’s injury as a “right blow” to the team during its integral part of the World Cup build-up.

Mr Adshead said that the team was going through a difficult phase mentally, the players having been through so much in the last two years that they were finding it hard to settle down and play as well as they had in the qualifying World Cup matches.