BT PWC 2012: British captain Pollock confident ahead of return

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

GREAT Britain's wheelchair basketball team haven't exactly slowed down since Jon Pollock was hit with injury, ending a 16-year European Championship title drought last September.

LOOK WHO'S BACK: Jon Pollock's return to the British wheelchair basketball team will only make them stronger

But the captain has bad news for Britain's London 2012 rivals ahead of his return at the BT Paralympic World Cup in May - insisting he will only make the team stronger.

Pollock was forced to miss last year's World Cup with a shoulder injury, the same problem ruling him out of the Europeans as he watched his teammates beat Germany 76-65 in the final in Israel.

But with a potential fourth Paralympic appearance at London 2012 looming on the horizon, the 34-year-old was in no mood to stay on the sidelines and has fought his way back into contention.

And, after admitting to fearing for his place last year, Pollock is ready to prove his worth at this year's World Cup in Manchester as Britain bid to upgrade bronze to gold.

"I had a tough year last year, missing out on the Paralympic World Cup and then the European Championships through injury," said Pollock.

"But I am back now and have been running rings around my teammates in training and although I still have to deal with the rehab everything is fine and I am raring to go.

"I was pleased for the guys obviously last year with the win at the Europeans in Israel but at the same time it was tough to deal with because I wasn't there and I wasn't part of it.

"Our coach Murray Treseder was great and phoned me right away and brought the trophy over to me as soon as he got back and let me know that I had not been forgotten.

"But I know that the team for London 2012 is still not finalised and although I have an inclination that I will be involved I will be taking nothing for granted and I will be doing all I can to cement my place, starting with a good performance in Manchester."

Germany will be looking to exact some revenge on Pollock and co at the Paralympic World Cup, with Japan and the USA also in the hunt for gold in Manchester.

And, while those three will be eager to lay a marker down ahead of this summer's Paralympics, Pollock insists Britain will be boxing clever ahead of any potential rematches in the capital.

"I think the Paralympic World Cup is more important for the other teams than it is for us this year because we have nothing to prove," he added.

"And, while the teams we will be facing off against are good in their own right, we know that the other teams from across the world who we will be up against at London 2012 will be sending scouts to watch us.

"So, while we will be trying to win, we want be using all our systems as we want to leave something for when it really matters this summer."

The BT Paralympic World Cup is taking place in Manchester from 22-26 May with elite international athletes competing in Athletics, Football 7-aside and Wheelchair Basketball. Go to www.btparalympicworldcup.com for tickets and more information

© Sportsbeat 2012