Kamil Conteh is looking to get back to his best in a Bristol Rovers shirt after a serious bone infection kept him sidelined for the second half of last season.
The midfielder was an ever-present for the Gas at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, playing 19 of Rovers' first 21 league fixtures, but the Boxing Day clash against Exeter City on his birthday proved to be his last.
The 22-year-old suffered a serious knee injury before developing a bone infection, forcing him to watch the rest of the campaign from the sideline.
However, after working hard to return, Conteh made his first competitive appearance of the term against Harrogate Town on the opening game of the season and has played in all seven of Rovers' fixtures across three separate competitions, starting on six occasions.
Speaking to the media, Conteh is delighted to be back in the middle of the action and reflected on his struggles last season.
“It feels good,” said Conteh. “It’s been too long. When I was out, just seeing the boys going out, it hurt me a lot in terms of not being able to make an impact on the pitch and playing, but now I am just buzzing with training and in games. With everything I do, I just want to give 100 per cent and go from there.
“Everyone who was here at the time saw that I was miles away from who I am as a person in terms of being lively and being bubbly. So, now I am back fit, I feel like I am back to who I am, and I just want to keep kicking on every day and getting better on the pitch and off the pitch.
“For me personally, what I went through with the injury, I wouldn’t wish that on any human being in terms of the pain that I was in. I was struggling to walk, and just the unknown of not knowing that I had a bone infection, doing so many scans, it was tough. There were a lot of sleepless nights, but I am happy to get through it, and I think the only way is up.”
As with any serious injury, Conteh was forced to sit on the sidelines and work hard behind the scenes to get back out on the pitch. With his first appearance in 2025 coming at the start of August, the 22-year-old had plenty of time to consider his recovery and suggested the time out has only made him stronger.
“The injury I had, Osteomyelitis, is an injury that is not common. I think there was one footballer that I know in the Championship that has had it, but nobody has really had it,” he said. “So, to go through it was crazy, but I think it has made me stronger in terms of being able to focus on my body more in the gym and in the summer, building fitness back up.
“Body-wise, I am much leaner than I was. So, it’s just about maintaining that and, on the pitch, doing what I was doing before in terms of doing extras, analysing the games back with the staff and doing one per cent to improve every day. That’s what I believe.
“I would say I am definitely getting back to my best. With every single game and training session, I keep getting better over time, and I feel like it will come, definitely.”
There has been plenty of change this summer at the Gas, with ten new players joining a much-changed squad for the 2025/26 season in Sky Bet League Two. However, there is one addition that Conteh has had to get to know especially well due to playing so closely alongside him on the pitch.
Josh McEachran, who joined from Oxford United in the summer, has partnered with Conteh in midfield at the start of the season, with Conteh hoping to gain knowledge from the 32-year-old, who has experienced Premier League and Champions League football.
“All the boys that have come in have settled in quite quickly,” said the 22-year-old. “They are all good characters, all good people in their own way, and I think for me, whoever I’m playing with, it’s about getting a good understanding and doing all we can to win because that’s what we’re here for, to be the best and to win.
“He [McEachran] is a good player. Obviously, we all know that he’s played at a much higher level, and if I can learn little bits from him and take that into my game, I think we’ll go a long way. He’s a good person, easy to talk to and easy to play with on the pitch. I enjoy playing with him.”
Rovers face Grimsby Town this weekend, with the Mariners coming into the contest with confidence after a strong start to the season. David Artell's men have won three and drawn two of their first five fixtures in Sky Bet League Two and beat Manchester United on penalties in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Conteh moved directly from Grimsby to the Gas in January 2024 after making 25 league appearances for the Mariners and is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, but knows all the focus is on helping the Pirates claim three points on the road.
“Everyone knows that I was there for a period of time, and I know a lot of the players as well, and know the manager very well and his staff,” said Conteh. “It will be good to see them, but for me, it’s about us, and if we can continue the momentum that we’ve been on in the last couple of games, I think we will go there and get a good result.
He later added, “The plan is to get the first away win of the season and after that, just keep kicking on.”
