Latest News
Portmore United’s Walsh close to JPL return
November 22, 2024
After missing the start of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season after undergoing meniscus surgery in the offseason, Portmore United were handed a big boost after striker Chevaughn Walsh returned to training recently.
Walsh has been the team's top scorer for the past two campaign..
However, after the team exited the JPL playoffs at the quarter-final stage last season, the big forward took the time off to do some repair work on his foot.
When STAR Sports caught up with the player recently, he revealed a hope of returning to action soon.
"I hope to be turning out very soon. I did a meniscus repair on my left knee. I am just working on the recovery to get back on the field," he commented.
"The recovery is going pretty well. I just resumed training with the team. So soon I'll be back on the pitch. But I don't want to jinx it. I will save it (return date) until I am back on the field fully. When I return, I want to be not out for the season again," he explained.
Walsh has been very impressed with how coach Rodolph Austin has handled and impacted the team, and wants to add to the excellent start.
"I am always at the training sessions, if I am not in the gym or at my therapy sessions. Rodolph is a very aggressive, passionate coach. But he is fair. He will give you the hard work and you just have to do it, and if you are working hard in training and doing what you are supposed to, he is going to put you out there to get your chance. So he is pretty fair and I like that," Walsh explained.
"I want to make sure I get to double figures (goals) and hopefully the team will be able to lift the championship," he added.
The 29-year-old, who has played in Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the USL, revealed that there is no immediate interest to return overseas, after getting his first child recently.
"This (Portmore) could be home now because recently I got a son, in Jamaica, and that is what I want to focus on, a two parent home for my son," he revealed.
"At the same time if there is any branching out overseas or anything like that I will have to think about it because age is not really on my side right now. So that is something I would have to think about," he continued.
With Portmore flying high in the standings, in second place on goal difference but tied atop with 20 points, Walsh is aware of the qualities he needs to bring to the table when he makes his comeback.
"The team is doing pretty well. To be in first position for quite some weeks now, that's pretty good. I just want to come and add some leadership and some goals from the strikers," he stated.
"The goals have been coming from midfield, wingers and centre backs. So I need to add some goals from up top," he added.
"But the team has been doing pretty well. Good cohesiveness, good vibe, good rhythm. Everything is going well. It's just a setback today," he reflected after Sunday's 1-0 loss against Arnett Gardens, who lie fourth on 18 points. "We have to work and come again.
"As a target we want to make sure we are in the playoffs, and as a striker I want to be in double figures regardless," he added.
Walsh joined Portmore mid-season, in January 2023, and netted eight goals that campaign. Then last term in an injury-plagued season, the striker netted nine goals to help the team to the playoffs, where they lost to Arnett Gardens.
