Oldham Athletic’s Jake Caprice on his return to action
Jake Caprice has declared himself eager to make up for lost time after stepping back onto the pitch for Oldham Athletic for the first time in four months. The experienced defender featured in the Latics’ EFL Trophy clash with Manchester City Under-21s, getting through the opening 35 minutes as he continues his recovery from injury.
The 31-year-old has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines, with his last appearance coming in late April before being forced out of action. Having now returned, Caprice admitted it was a relief to finally get minutes under his belt and reconnect with his teammates in a competitive environment.
“It’s been a long few months,” he said after the game. “You do all the work in the gym, you put in the hours of rehab, but nothing quite replicates being out on the pitch. Even though it was only 35 minutes, it felt massive for me. Hopefully, this is the start of me building up my fitness and helping the team in the weeks ahead.”
Caprice’s absence has been felt by Oldham. Known for his pace, energy, and ability to drive forward from full-back, the defender adds width and attacking intent as well as defensive cover. Without him, Latics boss Micky Mellon has had to shuffle his backline, with younger players stepping in to fill the void. Now, with Caprice’s return, there is a sense of renewed balance and experience being restored to the squad.
Mellon himself welcomed the defender’s return, though he urged caution as Caprice builds back towards full match sharpness. “It’s brilliant to see Jake back out there,” Mellon said. “He’s worked incredibly hard to get himself fit again. We’ll manage his minutes carefully because we don’t want to rush him, but having his quality and leadership available again is a huge boost for us.”
The game itself – a narrow contest against City’s youngsters – offered Caprice the ideal platform to ease himself back in. While the tempo was competitive, it wasn’t at the frantic levels of a league fixture, allowing him to test his body while avoiding unnecessary risks. The defender was withdrawn after 35 minutes, with Mellon confirming that the decision had been pre-planned as part of his recovery schedule.
For Caprice, though, the main focus is now on looking forward. With Oldham pushing to establish consistency in their campaign, he believes his return can contribute to a stronger run of results.
“I want to help the boys as much as I can,” he added. “The fans have been brilliant with their support while I’ve been out, and I want to repay that by giving everything on the pitch. It’s about getting my rhythm back, but once I’m up to speed, I know I can make a difference.”
As Oldham prepare for a demanding run of fixtures, the sight of Caprice back in the blue shirt is a welcome one. His comeback represents not only a personal milestone after months of frustration, but also a timely lift for the team as they look to build momentum.
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