{"id":1731,"date":"2024-05-28T12:03:36","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T11:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xgenius.co.uk\/?p=1731"},"modified":"2024-05-28T14:50:06","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T13:50:06","slug":"positive-mindset-vital-in-overcoming-injuries-says-ex-chelsea-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/xgenius\/2024\/05\/28\/positive-mindset-vital-in-overcoming-injuries-says-ex-chelsea-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"Positive mindset ‘vital’ in overcoming injuries says ex-Chelsea talent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former England youth international Charlie Wakefield said he \u2018felt like he\u2019d killed someone in his past life\u2019, after a string of injuries ended his promising career at Chelsea.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakefield picked up ten serious hamstring injuries between the ages of 18 and 21, just after he had started training with the first team under Antonio Conte. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now aged 26, Wakefield has made a documentary on mental health in football<\/a>, and has emphasised just how important having the correct mindset is when battling injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 18, Wakefield was starring for the Chelsea Under-23s alongside the likes of Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, until one game changed his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Charlie
Charlie Wakefield of Chelsea Under 23s during Premier League 2 match between Tottenham Hotspur Under 23s against Chelsea Under 23s at Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground, Enfield Britain on 06 Jan 2017 (Photo by Kieran Galvin\/NurPhoto) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cEverything was looking very promising at Chelsea, I had just scored a goal against Arsenal Under 23s, and we were playing Exeter City first team in the EFL Trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithin the first 30 minutes I pulled my hamstring. And from there it just kept happening. I would do all the correct rehab for months, and the doctors would always say my hamstrings were the strongest in the team when we did strength tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut as soon as I went back to training, they would go again. It was a frustrating time as I was seeing people in my age group making their mark, and I was stuck inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt this point, I was thinking that in another life I must have killed someone. I remember times I sat there with tears in my eyes thinking I would have to retire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When battling these negative thoughts, Wakefield stresses how important the right outlook on life can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have always had the mentality that \u2018everything happens for a reason\u2019, and I think repeating that to myself when I was going through these hard times was very important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to let negative thoughts creep in, and think \u2018why has this happened to me?\u2019. I knew thinking like this would send me on a downward spiral, so I decided to view it as a test I was given for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe in God, but I think somebody wanted to test my mentality through these injuries. I think my family were actually more down about it than me because of this mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakefield recently scored a screamer for his current club Braintree in the play off final,<\/a> which saw them promoted to the National League. Wakefield urges younger players to make sure they steer away from negativity when battling injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy advice to anyone who is injured is to steer away from negativity. The more positive your mind is with these injuries, the better the comeback will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving a positive mindset when you\u2019re going through injuries is vital. Just doing things which are good for your brain. I started reading ten pages of motivational books every day last year, and it\u2019s made a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakefield admits there have been times that he has let injuries<\/a> affect his in game performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was coming back from a hamstring injury when we played Burnley at Turf Moor, and I didn\u2019t play my best because I was constantly thinking about my hamstring. It was almost like I had to play the game a different way, because my game is all about driving with the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ex
Coventry City’s Charlie Wakefield controls the ball in the air<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wakefield\u2019s documentary encourages more players to speak out about their mental health, and he says doing so is vital in beating negative thoughts when injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been that player who is in the physio room every day while the boys go out to train, and it\u2019s a lonely place. Coaches and players don\u2019t really speak to you that much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo my advice would be to make sure you\u2019re speaking to other players and don\u2019t let yourself get in a hole because it\u2019s easy to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he was younger, Wakefield says there were times when he would let his mentality get in the way of his recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was 18, I pulled my hamstring and that night I went out clubbing in London with all the Chelsea boys, more out of disappointment than anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sitting in this club, we had this table, I drank a lot and didn\u2019t move all night. I thought to myself, \u2018I\u2019m not drinking out of enjoyment here\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI woke up the next morning and felt my hamstring and thought, \u2018I\u2019m in a bad way\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakefield says his mindset has improved for the better, and urges younger players not to entertain a negative mindset, however difficult it may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a 26 year old, I pulled my hamstring two months ago and then I did a four day fast because I heard it can help heal injuries. So my mentality from 18 to 25 is completely different, and I think it\u2019s important for younger players to make sure their mindset is positive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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