‘January was a tough period for me’ - City ace ready to finally put injury problems behind him

Norwich City midfielder Louis Thompson believes the lockdown earlier this year gave him the chance to rid himself of his injury demons.

Thompson, who is on loan at MK Dons for the season, feels he is finally rediscovering his form this campaign. The 25-year-old admits his previous loan spell during the last campaign at MK saw him focus on merely getting through games injury-free rather than prioritising his performances.

It led to many MK fans wondering why manager Russell Martin opted to bring the former Swindon man back to the club this summer.

However, lockdown gave Thompson the chance to strengthen his body for regular first team football and this season he is becoming the engine room of the League One side.

But those indifferent displays during his first spell earlier this year are something Thompson wants to put behind him.

“January was a tough period for me,” said Thompson, who is out of contract at Carrow Road in the summer of 2021 although the club have an option to extend for another 12 months. “I had a lot going on. I’d had a lot of injuries and a lot going through my head. I think the struggles I had showed in my performances. I was not necessarily focussing on playing well, but getting through each game.

“Lockdown allowed me to become pain-free and not to worry about my body but to concentrate on my performances and I think that has shown this season. I’m in a much better place than I was and I hope that can continue both personally and as a team.”

Thompson did pick up an ankle injury earlier this season but being the combative midfielder he is, the player believes those types of problems are hazards of the job.

“I like a tackle, I like to disrupt the opposition, so I could accept that injury,” Thompson told the MK Citizen. “The others I was suffering, muscle injuries, are tougher but I was really happy with how I started pre-season and I hope it continues.”