By wrecsam am byth
January 21 2004

Wrexham striker Chris Armstrong will go to bed tonight wearing a protective splint on his right leg. Find out why by clicking for more here.

The splint, Chris reveals, is helping him win a long and often painful battle against a troublesome Achilles injury. Physiotherapist Mel Pejic believes it may have even prevented Armstrong having surgery.
 

Armstrong, 32, revealed his closely-kept secret after playing his first full 90 minutes of league football this season at rain swept Grimsby Town last night. Wrexham won 3-1, ending a run of three successive defeats. Armstrong scored his second league goal in three games, his first was league goal was against Chesterfield.

He told the Evening Leader - : “Obviously, I’m very pleased to get a goal, particularly after what I’ve been through. I’m sleeping with a splint on my right leg and I’m sure it has helped.
 

“It keeps my foot still and at a 90-degree angle all the time even when I’m asleep and that really helps the next morning. I’ve had acute tendonitis which has built up with the Achilles’ injury - but we seem to be getting there. . . .”
 

That is music to his and Red Dragons manager Denis Smith’s ears. Smith has shown commendable patience in the care and treatment of Armstrong - and the player respects that.

”I’ve come home in many respects to Wrexham and obviously I want to do well for them,” said Armstrong. “They gave me my big chance in football and I really want to do well for them.
 

“It’s been a nightmare so far what with injuries and that and, frankly, I’ve got to discipline myself and not look backwards otherwise it would drive me nuts. I’ve got to look ahead, to the future. Pej’ has been superb in treating me and I’m sure the decision to wear a splint on my leg has definitely helped.

“We needed that win tonight after three defeats on the trot. This is a tricky place to come and the conditions tonight were also tricky. But I thought we worked hard throughout and obviously I’m very pleased to get a goal.
“Luckily, it came at a crucial time because it put us three up just before they came back for a while after scoring.”

Pejic said to the Evening Leader: “I’m pleased with Chris’s progress. It’s been a long job for the lad but - touch wood - we seem to be getting there. He’s had a full 90 minutes tonight and, like he says, I’m sure the splint is helping his rehab.
“It just keeps his foot still and in one position even while he’s asleep and he’s found it has helped the following morning.”
 

Ironically, Armstrong was thrust into last night’s starting line-up because co-striker Hector Sam was out with a gashed shin. Armstrong led the line with Chris Llewellyn, who also scored.
It was his thundering header that gave Wrexham a first-half lead and five minutes later Stephen Thomas made it 2-0 before Armstrong got the third in the second-half.