Alan Moogan cool on AFC Telford return

Few could have predicted when he came off in the fifth game of the season at Gainsborough Trinity that it would be six months before he would play again. The midfielder headed for the bench nursing his groin which, as it turned out, required an operation which was arranged by the Professional Footballers' Association.

The 29-year-old didn't have surgery straight away but kept his hand in through his coaching duties, only stepping away just after he went under the knife.

Moogan made his playing return as a late substitute at Vauxhall Motors last month, then played the second half at home to Bradford Park Avenue and Stalybridge Celtic.

No-one came bombing out of the New Bucks Head tunnel quicker than the former Everton trainee last weekend, as he made his first start for the club in seven months.

And ahead of tomorrow's Skrill North clash at Leamington, he said: "I felt sound after the game, although I had an ice bath so that's probably why I was alright! It will probably take a couple of starts to get my sharpness right.

"Every game is more minutes into my legs and we were 4-0 up in half-an-hour, so the game was pretty much won!

Now it's Leamington.

"They came here and put in a decent performance against us, so we will be expecting the same down there.

"We just need to go the way we are going by winning games. There are a lot of lads in this team who are experienced and have been there and done it at this level.

"It's all about concentrating on ourselves; our performance levels are high and we are winning games. Whatever I can do to help on the field, in any way, is what I want."

Moogan revealed he suspected the problem with his groin had been coming, after first feeling it during pre-season after he had signed for the club.

He said: "I was waiting for a while to have the op, there was problems getting a date so that put me back straight away. It was the end of November before it actually happened.

"Then I had to get back into the fold and start training, ready for a place in the squad and now starting games. To be honest, it started in pre-season, I knew it wasn't right.

"I played a couple of games. I had to come off at Gainsborough, in the end, knowing enough was enough.

"So something had to be done and it was disappointing. Being out for those six months was hard for me. It was the longest spell in my career."

Playing is Moogan's passion but coaching ranks alongside that, as he prepares for life when he hangs up his boots. He also works for Liverpool in their international academy.

He said: "I have been coaching now for about two or three years now at this level, alongside playing, but I have been involved on that side since I stopped playing full-time. I had a bad injury but I have been coaching ever since, whether that be at Everton or Liverpool in the academies.

"I really enjoy putting sessions on and coaching the group. If the opportunity came along, I would love to test myself as a manager."