Wycombe Wanderers winger Garath McCleary has revealed that his red card against Fleetwood Town was a ‘silver lining’ as he played in the fixture with an injury.
The 35-year-old was sent off after just 10 minutes against the Cod Army on September 3 for an off-the-ball incident with Drew Baker.
He received a three-game ban for the offence, but during this period, the ex-Reading and Nottingham Forest man was able to receive treatment for a ‘knock’ he had been carrying.
10 - Red card for Garath McCleary. An off-the-ball elbow on Drew Baker. Wycombe down to 10. #FTFC #Chairboys
— James Richings (@James_BFP) September 3, 2022
🔴 0-0 🔵
So far this season, McCleary has registered two goals and three assists in 10 league games for Wanderers.
Speaking to the press ahead of the match against Milton Keynes on Saturday, he said: “Looking at the table a few weeks ago, we know that we should have been doing a lot better.
“But a couple of back-to-back wins completely changes that, so we are just taking things a game at a time.
The ball was with Stryjek when the incident happened so I didn't see it, but Scott Brown and the Fleetwood bench went crazy. Been confirmed in the press box that it was an elbow. McCleary didn't complain and went straight down the tunnel. #Chairboys #FTFC
— James Richings (@James_BFP) September 3, 2022
“I have had a few assists and then the red card, but there was a silver lining in that as I had a knock which I was able to get sorted.
“I have come back now and I feel completely fine.
"It was bad [to get sent off against Fleetwood], and I’ve apologised to the fans, staff, players, and gaffer but I will always look at it as a silver lining as I had something wrong with me at the time.
45 - GOOOOAALLLLL!!!!! OH @gmccleary12!#Chairboys #PUFC
— James Richings (@James_BFP) October 15, 2022
🔵 1-1 ⚪️
“Now I can crack on with the games ahead.”
McCleary has played 89 times for Wycombe and has scored 17 goals since joining in 2020.
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