Forgotten Dagger eager to make his mark

10:53am Friday 29th August 2008

DAGENHAM AND REDBRIDGE may have lost exciting prospect Dominic Green this week, but that has left the door open for forgotten man Richard Graham.

The 27-year-old endured a torrid time on the treatment table last season with a succession of groin injuries and a minor operation which restricted him to a handful of games.

Fears he needed another hernia operation were put to rest when he played in the reserves for the last month of the season.

Now, with exciting prospect Green leaving for League One Peterborough United and transfer-listed Glen Southam's future still unresolved, there is a window of opportunity for the fit-again Northern Ireland-born wideman to finally make his mark at Victoria Road.

Understandably though, the player himself is first looking to maintain a decent level of fitness.

"Every time I tried to come back I was breaking down in training and reserve games," said Graham.

"If you’re not fit and don’t have match fitness there is no point trying to play.

"Me being 27 and losing a year in football is a big thing.

"You’ve just got to keep your mind right, be strong, and keep believing that you can get back fit."

When fully fit, Graham has a reputation for creativity, accurate crossing and an ability to leave defenders for dead.

Although the right-footer prefers playing on the left - which is where he played to such success when he won the Conference title with former club Barnet - such has been his frustration at being out injured that he is just desperate to be on the field in whatever position.

"I’m just dying to play," he added. "I’ll play on the left, on the right, up front. I’ll play anywhere to get in the team."

The Newry-born player may just get that chance from the start when the Daggers face Macclesfield at Victoria Road on Saturday.

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