Injury boost for Shrimps captain

Morecambe captain Jim Bentley is more hopeful of being fit for the start of the new season with his recovery from shoulder surgery ahead of schedule.

The 33-year-old had surgery this month on a shoulder injury picked up in the defeat against Notts County last year.

"I've been to see the specialist and he's made up with the way it's healed," Bentley told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I asked if I'd be okay for the start of the season and he said just to see how it goes."

Despite picking up the injury in December 2008, Bentley carried on playing for the remainder of the season.

But he admitted that his condition worsened during the games that followed.

"I've got a good range of movement which wasn't really expected"

"I went for a header and went over the top of the centre forward and came down on my shoulder," said the Liverpool-born defender.

"It was very sore for a few days after that but I just carried on and played the following games.

"It didn't feel too bad although I knew there was something not quite right. But it wasn't until the game against Bury that I knocked it again and had to go off and have a couple of injections to finish the game.

"From then on I needed an injection during most games, which helped me get through. That was important as we were pushing for the play-offs at the time.

"At the end of the season I needed a scan which revealed I'd need to see a specialist."

But although he was initially told he could be out of action for two to three months following the operation, Bentley's recuperation appears to be ahead of schedule.

"The specialist said I could start running within a couple of weeks once I could start moving my arm, but that he didn't want me doing any contact work," said Bentley.

"If I go shoulder to shoulder with someone or fall over on it, I could be back to square one so it's something I can't really rush.

"But I've got a good range of movement, which wasn't really expected, so he's quite happy for me to start running and said the way I'm healing I've every chance of being back sooner, rather than later."

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