Ipswich Town’s Andre Dozzell believes he’s edging closer to full fitness after a year ravaged by injury.
The England under-20 international starred for his nation in a 2-0 win against Germany last night.
It was another game under the belt for Dozzell, son of former Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur’s Jason Dozzell, after missing the whole of last season due to a serious knee injury.
The timing of the injury was particularly important as the midfielder was beginning to establish himself in the first team at Portman Road, proven by his inclusion in last year’s opening day 1-0 win at home to Birmingham City where he sustained the injury.
Dozzell made his Ipswich debut as a 16-year-old, coming on as a substitute against Sheffield Wednesday, and managed to score the equalising goal in a 1-1 draw. The 19-year-old only played 10 more times for Ipswich over the next two seasons, but looked set to establish his name in the first team picture were it not for the season-ending injury.
However, Dozzell believes he is almost back to full fitness and played just over an hour of last night’s game against Germany at Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium.
New Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert was in attendance at the game, casting his eye on the progress of his young star, as well as Trevoh Chalobah and Flynn Downes who are also currently playing for Ipswich.
Dozzell believes that he is at long last back to fitness.
“I missed a lot of football with England last year, I missed the U19 Euros, so it’s good to be back,” he told the East Anglian Times.
“I feel like I’m very close to, if not there, to being fully fit again. Every week and the more minutes I play I’m feeling sharper and able to run harder.
“It’s just the intensity of the running and stuff I can do now that I couldn’t do previous. I’m getting stronger and better each time I play.”
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