Rhys Norrington-Davies: New Wales start after injury torment

A complex hamstring injury saw the left wing-back miss the 2022 World Cup, something the Saudi Arabia-born defender admits he continues to struggle to come to terms with.

“I was still only a couple of weeks post-surgery, so I think the first couple of weeks were bed-bound, just watching the World Cup,” he explained.

“It probably hasn’t actually settled in yet, that I did [miss the tournament]. I probably haven’t realised the opportunity I’ve missed out on, even now, two years down the line.

“At the time, you are devastated when you pick up the initial injury, but your focus then is trying to get back fit and remaining as positive as you can about the situation.

“I watched the boys whilst they were out at the World Cup, and it was a tough one to take.

“I was thinking that I should have been there. But, in my head, I just wanted to get back fit and back playing as soon as possible.”

After more than a year on the sidelines, Norrington-Davies made his long awaited return at Manchester City, although, on only his fifth appearance after coming back from injury, the versatile defender suffered a further setback.

It means Norrington-Davies has featured just 12 times for Sheffield United since initially sustaining the problem in October 2022, and the setback also came at a point where his contract with the Blades was close to expiring.

“I was coming up to the end of my contract and there were probably a lot of grey areas with the injury I had sustained,” he said.

“A hamstring injury occurs quite a bit in football, but the complication, not so much.

“I’d picked up nerve damage. It could have been sustained during the initial injury or during surgery. It just meant the time frame was extended massively.

“I was at the eight week mark, post surgery, and I was in the gym doing exercises I’m getting told to do and I can remember just not having a great deal of strength.

“At that stage, we probably realised something wasn’t quite right.”