Morrison out to build rhythm after injury lay-off

Michael Morrison is in his second spell with Cambridge after rejoining from Portsmouth in January 2023

Cambridge United captain Michael Morrison says he was not expecting to get straight back into the team after a lay-off with a bruised lung.

Morrison, 37, missed four League Two matches and the Carabao Cup victory over Charlton after suffering the injury in a collision with U's goalkeeper Jake Eastwood.

The experienced centre-half was sent to hospital after the incident on 16 August, but was fit to start for Cambridge in their draw at Grimsby on Saturday.

"You just want to get some rhythm at the start of the season, so you do pre-season and then play three or four games and then end up a month out again, so you're trying to build that rhythm again," Morrison added.

"To be fair I wasn't expecting to get straight back in. I think Mamadou (Jobe) and Kelland (Watts) have done really well, so you have to take your chance because there's real competition for places."

Morrison endured a "frustrating" wait to get back into full training, with boss Neil Harris eager not to rush his recovery.

"After two-and-a-half weeks I was out running and not doing any contact stuff so all you're doing is seeing the lads doing training," Morrison told BBC Radio Cambridge.

"I did a few days of training contact and marked Kylian (Kouassi). He's a big lad so you're going to get one of those in your ribs, so that was good to get before the weekend, and then I felt fine and ready to go."

Cambridge, who sit 13th, host Fleetwood on Saturday (12:30 BST).