Christian Burgess: It's good to be back

Burgess put five weeks on the sidelines behind him as he made his return from an ankle injury against Ipswich last night.

The 24-year-old got 85 minutes under his belt in the 2-1 third-round replay win over the Tractor Boys.

Burgess was withdrawn as a precautionary measure after suffering some cramp in his calves.

But he was pleased to get back out on the pitch once again after looking on from the stands.

Burgess said: ‘It was a great performance from lads and it was good to be back.

‘I got through a good part of the game and that’s good news. I felt comfortable out there.

‘It’s been five weeks or so, so it’s pleasing to get the game under my belt.

‘I’ve been a bit under the weather, but nothing you wouldn’t expect for this time of the year.

‘It was a good game to be part of and I was glad to be out there.’

Burgess explained he did find the going a little tough on heavy Fratton Park pitch after the recent rainfall.

That made it a testing surface for someone coming back after an injury lay-off.

Paul Cook has intimated he is likely to rest the defender for Saturday’s meeting with Oxford at Fratton Park.

Burgess explained he has not undertaken a mass of work on the training pitch since coming back into the equation.

He said: ‘I felt my calves about five minutes in!

‘Seriously, though, I did really feel them about 60 minutes in.

‘I haven’t done a lot of work on the pitch where the weather has not been great.

‘It’s not quite the same in the gym.

‘At this time of season the pitches are hard and you aren’t getting any reserve games.

‘It was ideal for me to be out there and get the game under my belt.’

Pompey were good value for the cup victory as they set up a date with Bournemouth at the end of the month.

Burgess felt his side restricted Mick McCarthy’s side to little in the way of clearcut opportunities as they progressed to the fourth round.

The defender added: ‘We felt the win was deserved.

‘They didn’t really have that much threat. Even their goal was a good strike which came out of nothing.

‘We didn’t want to take any chances and kept things safe.

‘Barts (Adam Barton) went in there and did a good job so things were all good.’

– JORDAN CROSS