Campbell Playing Through The Pain

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday February 7, 2007

GRITTY Wollongong guard Mat Campbell will have surgery on his damaged left knee later this month but will play in the Hawks' final two games of the NBL regular season.

Campbell epitomises the determination within the Hawks' ranks to complete their commitments successfully against Perth at WIN Entertainment Centre tonight and away to West Sydney on Saturday night.

Campbell yesterday said he has booked in on February 19 to have an arthroscope and microfracture surgery done on his injured knee.

He revealed there was a hole in the cartilage and bone bruising around it which he has had since the home game against Adelaide on December 20 last year.

Campbell had an MRI scan and consulted a surgeon in North Sydney who told him he should have surgery on the injured knee straight away.

Despite constant swelling in his left knee since December and with the Hawks out of the play-offs for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, missing these final games against Perth tonight and West Sydney on Saturday night was never a consideration for Campbell.

"I wanted to finish out the year for the boys," Campbell said.

"We've had a pretty rough year and that was right about when all the Brendan stuff happened and I didn't see why I needed to leave the team at that stage.

"So I've been carrying it for pretty much half the season.

"I actually could've got it done tomorrow but there are only two games to go and I don't want to leave the guys at this stage.

"It's more about pride now I think for our team. Throughout the year we've shown we can mix it with the better teams in the league."

Campbell believes the Hawks owe it to their fans to complete their 2006-07 commitments with a win.

"I've been really happy with the fans all year the way they've shown such good support for us even though we were losing," he said.

"I think it's important for the group that we come out and put on a good show.

"We need that last win at home to give the fans back something for the year and entice them to come again next season."

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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