Ronan Curtis has declared himself fully recovered from the knee surgery he underwent during the summer, insisting the 30-year-old is now free of the pain that plagued him through large parts of last season.
Managing through the pain
The Plymouth Argyle winger, speaking to BBC South West, revealed that a slight meniscus tear had been troubling him since pre-season last year. Rather than miss games, Curtis played through the discomfort, relying on medication to get himself onto the pitch week after week.
"The knee's good," Curtis said. "I got the surgery in the summer, it was something that I did last pre-season, had a slight meniscus tear but I could play through the pain just managing it through last season. But I managed to get it done this season, get the surgery and back to my fully fit best now."
He added that the decision to have the procedure could not be delayed any longer. "It was something that I needed to get done in the summer because the odd time it would swell up and taking too many tablets to get me through games and stuff like that, but I'm all fit and healthy now."
A permanent Pilgrim
Curtis joined Plymouth on a permanent basis from Port Vale in January, having initially arrived on loan. He signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Home Park and went on to make 23 appearances in all competitions last season, contributing two goals. His form was enough to persuade the club to commit to him long-term, and his availability now for a full pre-season will have been welcomed by head coach Wayne Cleverley.
The winger's fitness update is particularly timely given Argyle's busy early schedule in the third tier. Curtis has started all five of Plymouth's League One fixtures so far this campaign, underlining his importance to Cleverley's plans even when he was nursing the injury through the summer recovery period.
Early-season picture
Plymouth have made a mixed start to the League One season, claiming two wins and suffering two defeats from their opening five matches. The Pilgrims will be looking for greater consistency as the campaign develops, and a fully fit Curtis operating at full intensity could prove a key factor in that.
"I have all faith in myself to come back stronger, fitter and much better," the winger said, words that will encourage supporters who saw flashes of his quality last term despite the underlying physical issue.
Curtis's career has taken him through Portsmouth and Luton Town before his move to Port Vale, and he arrives at Home Park with considerable experience of the lower tiers. Now free of the issue that required managing for the best part of a year, Plymouth will be hoping to see that experience translated into consistent performances across a full League One campaign.
Frequently asked
- Is Ronan Curtis fit for Plymouth Argyle this season?
- Yes. Curtis has confirmed he is back to full fitness after undergoing knee surgery during the summer to repair a meniscus tear he had been managing since pre-season last year. He has started all five of Plymouth's League One matches this season.
- What injury did Ronan Curtis have?
- Curtis suffered a slight meniscus tear in his knee during pre-season last year. He played through the injury last season with the help of medication before having surgery to correct it during the summer.
- How did Ronan Curtis join Plymouth Argyle permanently?
- Curtis initially joined Plymouth on loan from Port Vale in January, before signing a two-and-a-half year permanent deal at the same time. He made 23 appearances and scored twice in all competitions last season.