Wycombe Wanderers are hoping to have Josh Scowen back in the first team in the near future, putting an end to his long injury nightmare.
It’s ten months since he suffered an ACL injury at Leyton Orient, which has seen him miss almost a full season of action.
Unknown Return Date
Scowen came through the ranks at Adams Park, spending the first few years of his career with the Chairboys. He became an established EFL footballer with Barnsley, continuing his development in the Championship with the Tykes before joining second-tier rivals Queens Park Rangers. The 32-year-old dropped back into League One with Sunderland before moving back to Buckinghamshire in 2021.
A consistent feature in the Chairboys’ side, Scowen featured in 38 of Wycombe’s league matches last season. But in the penultimate match of the campaign, he suffered that cruel injury in the capital that has kept him out ever since. However, he has played in a couple of fixtures recently as he steps up his recovery, including 90 minutes in an academy friendly this week.
And while head coach Michael Duff has given some positive news regarding his return, he will continue to be eased back into action.
“When he returns, it will be another selection headache for us, but we all know how good a player he is. It is all about getting him fit, as he has been out for nearly a year. It has been a long time, so he needs to get up to speed, but it is a great problem to have.
“If all the midfielders dropped out tomorrow and we needed to play Josh, we would. We still think it is a little bit soon for him. For him, it is like going through a pre-season to get him ready for first-team football, so he doesn’t look rusty.”
Potential Play-Off Aspirations
While it feels unlikely that Scowen will play too many times before the end of the season, his contributions could be crucial in the final month of the campaign. Wycombe are one of several sides looking to break into the top six positions in League One, sitting five points adrift of Huddersfield Town, with a game in hand.
Five wins in nine matches have boosted those aspirations, though a tough start to the season under former boss Mike Dodds may prove too difficult to overturn. In fact, looking at the table since Duff took over in mid-September, the Chairboys would be in sixth position. Overcoming struggling Burton Albion and Barnsley in their next two matches will enhance their chances of finishing in that spot come May.
