After waiting two years to see her son play again, Jose Izquierdo's mum couldn't bear to watch the winger on Saturday at Sheffield United.
The 28-year-old came on for the final ten minutes against the Blades – a first appearance since a 1-1 draw against Newcastle in April 2019.
“Even for my family it's been a hard time while I have been out injured. I am very quiet, I try to keep things to myself because I don't want them to worry as they're faraway.
“My mum is very anxious and I don't want to put more pressure on her with the Covid-19 situation as well, I put the pressure on myself.
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“But they've been amazing, they watched the game and my parents were crying! My mum couldn't watch the game when she saw I was coming on, she went into the other room to pray.”
It's been a tough couple of years for the Columbia international, who has been close to a return only to suffer setbacks along the way.
“It's hard when you're out for a long time, the situation has been hard. When you believe you are close to coming back, something happens. I have felt many times that I have been close to a comeback and then I have picked up another injury. It's hard mentally.
“I had promised myself at the beginning that I will try my best until the end and try to make it, it doesn't matter what happens, it doesn't matter if the situation beats me. I am really proud of myself because it wasn't easy.”