MARTIJN Reuser will grit his teeth and force his way through the pain barrier as he continues his recovery from injury playing for Ipswich Town reserves at Watford tonight.

MARTIJN Reuser will grit his teeth and force his way through the pain barrier as he continues his recovery from injury playing for Ipswich Town reserves at Watford tonight, writes Derek Davis.

The Dutchman has struggled for almost two months with a niggling groin injury and there was a worry he may need a hernia operation.

But after weeks of strengthening work with fitness coach Simon Thadani, Reuser knows the next stage is as much psychological as physical. He said: “I can still feel a bit of pain with certain movements or when I strike the ball but it goes quickly.

“The area is quite strong, so really now I have to take that next step and get through it. Sometimes you have to get on with it to get over it.”

The 28-year-old is no stranger to battling back from serious injury. He recovered from a badly broken leg while at Ajax and earlier this year fought back from a knee operation.

Reuser said: “I know how tough it is to come back from injury and I know I have to grit my teeth and get through it.

“Injuries are the downside of a football career but hopefully I have had my share now and I can get on with doing my profession.”

The one-time Dutch international has enjoyed seeing Town's resurgence but can't wait to be more fully involved.

He said: “They have been doing brilliantly and it is frustrating for all of us who have been out injured. I have started training with them again and it is lovely to be back in among it.

“I'm still a few weeks from full match fitness but I can't wait to play.”

Reuser will be assessed after 45 minutes at Vicarage Road, and also looking for an hour or so is defender John McGreal who is another with the Devil's own bad luck when it comes to injury.

The Scouser completed a good work-out against Derby's second string last week.

Tommy Miller will get some more match fitness under his belt, while Lewis Price gets the chance to stay sharp in goal.

Town also include two schoolboys among the substitutes in Fraser Beveridge and Darryl Knights.

Meanwhile, Town keeper James Pullen is on his way to Second Division Peterborough United. The former Heybridge Swifts stopper has just finished a three-month loan stint at Conference club Dagenham & Redbridge and after interest from Barnet he is set to join Barry Fry's Posh within the next 48 hours, after playing for their reserves against Rushden last night.

Ipswich Town Reserves: Price, Mitchell, Barron, Murray, McGreal, Nash, Abidallah, Bloomfield, Miller, Flack, Peat, Beveridge, Craig, Knights.