Joel Veltman has been impressed with the performances of Jack Hinshelwood at right-back during his absence from the team.
The 31-year-old injured his knee in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on 17 December but hopes to be back in first-team contention next month. Veltman is continuing his rehabilitation in Dubai this week at the squad’s warm-weather training camp.
He said, “To be honest what Jack has already achieved has surprised me in a really good way. When he came into the first-team squad I was so impressed with how good he was on the ball – his technique. He’s athletic and you can see how good he is in situations with the ball, I love seeing his development game by game.”
Having ruptured the ACL in both knees before, Veltman admitted he feared the worst when he limped off at the Emirates last month early in the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
“I was trying to touch the ball away from [Gabriel] Martinelli and stretched my knee, and his body weight came directly onto my knee. I have a history of knee trouble I thought I’d done my ACL so when the specialist told me MCL that was a positive.
“I hope to back in full training in 2-3 weeks, I am doing some things on the pitch now to make the knee stronger. I am also doing strengthening exercises in the gym because even after just two weeks on crutches you do lose muscle power. Hopefully it won’t be long before I am back in the squad.”
Roberto De Zerbi could have several players in contention in time for the last three months of the season as Albion challenge in two cup competitions and for another top-half finish in the Premier League and, according to Veltman, anything is possible.
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“There are loads of players coming back to fitness. We’re fighting in three competitions and we will need all of our squad and we know Roberto loves to keep things fresh with the team.
“What can we achieve? Well, Ajax made it to the Europa League final against Man United when I was there and nobody thought we would do that. It’s knockout football and you don’t know how it will go.
“If you are winning in the league you take that confidence into Europe. League-wise, with all the extra games this season to be seventh is crazy. You have to be realistic and of course stay humble, but there is so much we can achieve this season and hopefully I can play a part.”