Cliftonville's 'strong character' hailed for bouncing back from injury nightmare
Cliftonville assistant manager Gerard Lyttle has praised Rhyss Campbell for bouncing back from his injury nightmare as “a bigger, better, stronger person and player” – and believes he’s delivering on the promise the Reds management team always knew he had.
Campbell joined Cliftonville ahead of last season having scored nine Premiership goals during a sole campaign in full-time football with Coleraine, but suffered a long-term injury after just two league appearances for his new club.
The 27-year-old, who previously had a serious knee injury while playing for Dungannon Swifts, spent 12 months on the sidelines before returning in August.
Campbell has made a huge impact for the Reds in recent weeks to help Jim Magilton’s side put together a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions ahead of a trip to Limavady United on Friday night.
He struck a brace after being introduced off the bench during an emphatic 7-1 Premiership victory over Carrick Rangers on October 31 and sealed maximum points with a composed finish in last week’s 4-2 win against reigning champions Larne at Solitude.
As Campbell continues to rack up match sharpness, Lyttle predicts he’ll hit the heights which the Reds knew he was capable of after making their move to sign him.
"I’m really happy for Rhyss,” said Lyttle. “Rhyss came as a big signing for Cliftonville and nobody got to see what we had seen in him, what we believe he is and what he can be.
"Rhyss had a tough year but he’s coming back bigger and stronger and it’s great to see that he’s doing what we always thought he could.
"He just needs to keep his head down now and just get himself back to where he was before he got the injury and work really hard on his fitness and his sharpness.
"It's really hard (coming to a new club and getting injured), it's really difficult.
"That will make him a bigger, better, stronger person and player for it and he has that in him.
"He's got a strong character, we can see that and we know that...hopefully now we'll start seeing the benefits of him persevering and seeing him coming back to hopefully his best.”