‘So tough’ – The City injury nightmare that changed a career but shaped a future

Tai Sodje was a promising player coming through the ranks at Manchester City until injury struck. Now he’s plotting an FA Cup shock with Buxton and dreaming of round three.

Tai Sodje suffered some dark moments during his Manchester City injury hell, but the forward is now lighting up the National League North and dreaming of a potential FA Cup tie against the Blues. Sodje was released by City in the summer having suffered with injuries that had hampered his development. He was touted as a player to watch coming through the ranks and earned a professional deal in 2021 before hamstring problems surfaced.

Just as he would get close to a return, his body would break down. His mind nearly did too. “It was tough, when I was going through it at the time, it was really tough,” he said, sitting down with the Manchester Evening News. “You feel like you’re just coming back, you feel like you’ve past it and you feel fine and then to break down again, it just kills you.

“You’re looking at your mates going out and playing every day thinking I don’t want to be in the gym. It is tough, it’s definitely a tough thing.”

Sodje had suddenly gone from banter on the football pitch to daily chats with City’s physios. “You see them more than anyone else probably and you create a good relationship. They help you massively, obviously some days you come in and you’re moody and you’re not in the best mood every day, but they made it a lot easier than it can be.”

Now he’s through the other side and playing regularly for Buxton, Sodje believes the injury woes have strengthened his body and his mentality. “I think it’s definitely helped, it’s just your resilience,” he added. “You miss football so much more when you’re not playing. It makes you appreciate it loads more so now I’m in that flow of playing games I’m enjoying it because I know what it’s like to not play.”

Things have certainly clicked at ambitious Buxton, who went full time at the start of last season. Sodje, 22, is playing regularly and has eight league goals in just 15 starts as the Bucks target promotion. This weekend they are on the road at League Two side Cheltenham Town aiming to reach the FA Cup third round for only the second time in their history.

“There’s a massive buzz around the place,” continued Sodje. “Even with the fans and everyone around the club. It’s a really good set-up here, good staff and players. I think the team we’ve got is a team that definitely can play a lot higher than the league we’re in now. I think we’ve all got our eyes on promotion. I feel like the gap (to the National League) is something as a team we could easily bridge.”

Sodje joined City a decade ago, moving from Sheffield United after being spotted by Etihad scouts. He jumped at the chance to join the Blues and played in youth teams alongside the likes of current City and England star Nico O’Reilly and Chelsea star Cole Palmer. His progress was smooth and he earned a professional deal at 18 before injury intervened. But even with that significant setback, which ultimately played a part in him leaving the club, he has nothing but pride and positive memories from his time at the club.

Sodje’s dad Bright played professional rugby league while uncles Efe and Sam were international footballers with Nigeria. Sport is in his blood. He went to St Bede’s in Manchester alongside his City teammates and remained focused on his football goal, on and off the pitch. He stayed grounded, cocooned in the City bubble that helped him retain focus as he progressed through the academy and reached the age where off-pitch distractions can take over.

“I think it just depends who you’ve got around you,” he said on whether it was difficult growing up in the City academy. “My family and my friends kept me grounded, a lot of my family plays different sports anyway so everyone keeps you grounded. Your mum and dad just don’t let you get carried away.

“As a player you’ve got the best pitches, the best staff, they’ve got the best everything around you. So you can ask questions and they give the best possible answers, which is always a good thing and I think that helps massively.

“You have the best players in the country at that age. There’s probably a bit of pressure to win every game, but when you’re playing it doesn’t feel like there’s any pressure.

“You’re in it together, when you’re young and you’re growing up – it just feels normal. You’re in a bit of a bubble, it doesn’t feel special or anything.”

What would be special would be creating a cup upset for Buxton on Saturday afternoon and a dream third round tie with City.

“Be good, wouldn’t it?” smiles Sodje, with considerable understatement. But this is a man who knows that life right now is good. He’s been knocked down by football, now he’s only looking up.