Mildenhall Town striker Ryan Swift enjoying his football again after missing whole season with knee issues at Cambridge City
Ryan Swift was Mildenhall Town’s match winner on Saturday, but his spell at the club almost never started.
While on the books of Cambridge City, the striker missed the entirety of the 2023/24 season with patella tendonitis.
And when the problem flared up once again during the summer ahead of a potential move to newly-promoted Mildenhall, Swift gave serious consideration to hanging up his boots.
“It actually started the season before (2022/23) around Christmas time but I managed to play with it and get through games,” said the 28-year-old.
“But once I had signed for City it flared up again and this time it was worse. I wasn’t always sure of the right recovery work and just when I felt like I was making steps forward, it would flare up again.
“It was a struggle and it was getting to a point where every step I took, there would be pain in my knee. It’s not enjoyable when it gets to that point.
“I did a bit with Mildenhall just before pre-season started properly and it wasn’t feeling much better. It got to the point where I was going to ring Phil (Weavers, Mildenhall manager) and pack it in.
“When you’re in that much pain you’re never going to play well so what’s the point? That’s how I felt.”
But just when he needed it most, by chance Swift found a solution while scrolling through social media.
A video that provided advice and exercises for his particular problem has provided some much needed relief and while the knee discomfort still lingers, the attacker is now able to get through games.
In fact, Swift has gone on to make 26 appearances in a Mildenhall shirt so far this season – only Callum Anderson (27) can boast a better tally out of all of his team-mates.
“That video has made a big difference. Within a week of doing those exercises it was feeling much better,” added Swift.
“It’s still not 100 per cent but I manage it now and get through games.
“I think I’ve missed one game this season and that was through illness, which feels like an achievement after the last 18 months.
“Getting back to the fitness levels required for Step 4 has been tough, but I’ve by far exceeded the expectations I had coming into the season.
“It’s something I’ll always have to manage but I’ll take that as long as I can play. I’ve really enjoyed playing this season, especially after being out for so long.”
But while being available for selection each week is an accomplishment in itself, Swift is also acutely aware that he has to be effective on the pitch – and as a striker, that means contributing goals.
His first Mildenhall goal – scored against Basildon – took 18 appearances to arrive, but there have been signs in recent weeks that the clinical touch is beginning to return.
Swift netted the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against his former club Cambridge City on New Year’s Day before bagging a match-winning brace during the weekend’s 2-1 victory at Haringey Borough.
“The goals have been a source of frustration,” he conceded. “I think there’s been times where I’ve been a bit unlucky and then there’s been other times where I could have finished better.
“I’ve definitely lacked a bit of sharpness. When you haven’t been in those (goalscoring) scenarios for a while, you feel less relaxed and you snatch at things. Then you put more and more pressure on yourself and the longer it goes on it definitely weighs on you.
“At the same time scoring goals is not my sole responsibility. Although I’m playing as a number nine, part of my job is dropping deep into space where I can create chances and I’d like to think I’ve been good at that. But there still comes a point when as a striker, you’ve got to be scoring goals.
“Saturday (at Haringey) was the first time where I actually felt like I got a bit of luck. One of the goals took a deflection and went in, but in the past it’s been turned on to the post or bar by the goalkeeper or gone wide. That sort of thing has happened a lot.
“With a bit more luck and better finishing, I could be on double figures instead of four goals.
“Hopefully it’s like a lot of things – once you’ve got a bit of confidence in front of goal it all becomes a bit easier.
“When I’ve scored goals in the past I’ve backed my ability to shoot quickly instead of taking extra touches, which is something I feel like I’m getting closer to.”
Swift’s goals against Haringey helped to make it back-to-back Isthmian League North Division wins for Mildenhall, who are now unbeaten in six outings having previously racked up four straight draws.
That form has moved Phil Weavers’ men nine points clear of the relegation zone and up to 14th – a position that Swift believes Mildenhall are more worthy of having spent much of the campaign flirting with the bottom four.
“We’ve been playing well and while it’s hard to say we’ve deserved more when we haven’t made enough of our domination, we feel like we've left plenty of points out there,” said Swift.
“Those draws felt like the first step in a lot of ways. We became hard to beat and when you look at it, three of those games were away and the other was against Bury at home – they’re all tough.
“And after that we’ve managed to find a way to win games – probably when we haven’t been at our best as well.
“It does feel like we’ve turned a corner in recent weeks and we’ve definitely given ourselves something to build on.”
Mildenhall will host Brentwood Town on Saturday (3pm).
