Long-serving Ashford United defender Tariq Ossai speaks about his recovery from knee surgery | Nuts & Bolts to play their first game on new 3G pitch at Homlands

Tariq Ossai - Ashford’s longest-serving player - is back in business after months on the sidelines.

Ossai, 24, suffered a knee injury during an Isthmian South East game against Sheppey in April and required an operation.

He underwent keyhole surgery to repair a flipped meniscus and has played the Nuts & Bolts’ last two games - wins over Beckenham and Merstham.

The right-back, who celebrates four years at Ashford next month, is hoping to keep his place when they meet Burgess Hill in their first game on the new 3G pitch at Homelands this Saturday (3pm).

“It’s been a tough few months,” said Ossai, a former Crystal Palace development squad player.

“I’ve had muscle and joint injuries but this is the first injury that’s required a proper operation and it’s been tough, mentally more than physically.

“There’s days when you’re like, ‘Is it going to get better? Is it not?’.

“It has been difficult but it’s good to get back training and playing.

“I just want to start knocking down each game and getting wins on the board.”

Ossai’s comeback carries risks but he’s put those firmly out of his mind.

“With people under 40, they tend to repair the meniscus rather than remove it because with removal it’s very likely you’ll end up with arthritis,” he said.

“The unfortunate thing with repairing is that it’s not a complete fix.

“There’s always that possibility of it going again, whether it’s in one month, one year or 10 years.

“You just have to get on with it. With anything you do, there’s a possibility something might happen.

“When you get in a car, there’s a possibility you might crash but you don’t get in a car and think like that.

“If I continue to think about the knee, the likelihood is it’s going to happen again, so I don’t think about