ON a very hot and dusty day at Charlton's Sparrows Lane training ground, the sweaty figure of Clive Mendonca was not one that you would have expected to agree to model the Addicks' new third kit.

With everyone else still finishing off their summer holiday, Clive has been in virtually every day, ensuring that he was totally ready for the start of pre-season training last week.

However, as he happily put on the new strip, which will be available in the Superstore in September, it became clear that things were looking up for the man even the training ground signing in book lists as 'super' Clive.

“It's all right this isn't it. In fact, it's just nice to get a football kit back on again! I've always done alright wearing black shorts, and there's a few up at Grimsby who'll vouch for that!”

The last two seasons have been disappointing ones for him. Charlton's march to the First Division title had to carry on without him after Christmas, and the whole of last season was spent on the treatment table.

An initial operation to cure a problem in his lower back failed to rid him of the pain that had dogged his first Premiership season, and he was forced to undergo a second bout of surgery.

The operation uncovered a cyst on his hip and, after a painful spell of rehabilitation, Clive is now back in full training.

It was a breakthrough that has understandably lifted his spirits.

“I was starting to get really depressed when it became clear the first operation hadn't worked. I was doing all the right things, but it was one step forward and two back,” Clive said.

“It could have been a difficult decision to undergo a huge operation, but if I'm being honest, I knew that I wasn't going to get any better without it, and to decide not to go through with it would have been like giving up the chance of playing again.”

He is in no doubt now that it was a decision well worth taking. Looking fitter and happier than he has done for much of the last 18 months, Clive could not wait to start pre-season training.

“I've been doing a lot of running over the last four weeks, and I'm moving better than ever.

“The operation sorted out a lot of problems, and I'm very happy with the way I'm feeling at the moment.

“There's a lot of competition for places in the side these days, but now I'm not weighed down with injury worries, I really want to remind people what I can do again.”