PACE ace Oliver Newby is in a rush to make up for lost time – and insists that last year’s injury nightmare has only served to make him stronger and even more determined than before to lead the Lancashire attack.

Read’s pace ace was on the cusp of a call to lead the Red Rose line last season and had impressed in a one-day game at Sussex when injury struck and he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while on duty for the seconds.

That left the 26-year-old sidelined for the rest of the season – and to rumours of the career-threatening type.

Those were, thankfully, wide of the mark and Newby is back for 2011 – and can’t wait for the season to start.

“Our season starts ridiculously early probably before any of the local league sides have had an outside net and it will be cold for the first games – but bring it on,” said Newby.

“I am fully fit and I have worked hard on my bowling over the winter and put some serious miles under my belt in the indoor school and feel ready for a big year.

“And I do feel that I have to make up for a little bit of lost time.”

Newby admits his injury came at the worst time possible last year – but is big enough and tough enough to admit there is no point dwelling on it.

“Of course the timing was bad – but that’s part and parcel of professional sport,” he said.

“There is no good time to get hurt but I was looking forward to last season. I felt I was right on the verge last year.

“Yes, I was behind Daren Powell in the pecking order but I felt that everything came together in the game down at Sussex, everything was good.

“But I went off after that to the seconds and that’s where I picked up the injury.

“So I suppose yes, the timing could have been a lot better.

“And of course it was difficult. I am a cricketer and I want to play cricket so after the operation when I was back in doing my rehabilitation it was pretty horrible being in the dressing room when all the lads were getting ready for games. You want to be out there with them.

“But it is one of those things, you have to get over yourself and get on with it.

“I am fit now and there is nothing more that I can do to strengthen the leg any more.

“I am not worried about the ACL going again, I am not worried about the other one going. There is nothing you can do about it – if it goes, it goes and you can’t let it worry you.

“All I am thinking about is going out there and pushing for a regular place in the side – that’s the only thing on my mind.”