King sets record straight (From Watford Observer)

King sets record straight

11:48am Friday 17th November 2006 in

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WATFORD striker Marlon King has invited the architect of the rumours that have coincided with his spell on the sidelines to come forward and speak to him face to face.

Speaking for the first time since being ruled out for the rest of the season, the Hornets' star forward has hit back at the speculation that started to spread like wild fire following the away match at Charlton.

In fact, the rumour mill started so quickly that manager Aidy Boothroyd was accosted by one fan on his way to the post-match press conference at The Valley.

The stories - fuelled by postings on the club's own message board - have ranged from King being involved in a fight in a night club to a blazing row with Boothroyd and that his injury was just a smokescreen.

However, the stories quickly proved unfounded when King underwent major knee surgery after suffering a relapse in the build-up to the home game with Middlesbrough.

King had not become aware of the speculation until after his operation and requested an interview with the Watford Observer to put the record straight.

"If anyone has got any hard facts then come down and see me and we'll have a chat," said the 26-year-old. "I've got nothing to hide and nor has anyone else down here. Anytime this source wants to come forward then that is fine.

"I just find it a joke and I don't know why people make up these lies as they are not helping the club. They are the ones who look idiots at the end of the day. It's a minority and you wonder sometimes whether they are Luton fans in disguise. Surely they have something better to do.

"I don't know where it comes from and the most important thing is that everyone here knows the truth and so do the real fans."

King was particularly angered at the suggestion that he had fallen out with Boothroyd, the man who has played such a major role in resurrecting his career.

"The gaffer has been magnificent and I've got nothing but praise for him," said King on the man who rescued him from his Nottingham Forest nightmare at the City Ground.

"People saying we have had a fall out is so far from the truth it's unbelievable. He has done wonders for me and I hope to repay him next season."

The return of a player who scored 24 goals last season cannot come soon enough for his manager who must have been devastated when his talisman was ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery.

Watford did not expect King to be out of action for as long as six months until the surgeon discovered further damage to a problem that initially flared up at the Emirates Stadium.

"After the Arsenal game it blew up so I came in the next day and went to have a scan and the scan showed I had a small tear in my meniscus," explained King.

"He the surgeon didn't feel he needed to operate and told me just to give it a chance to settle down. I rested it for two weeks and was all set to come back into the squad but then came back training on the Thursday and it blew up again on the Friday.

"I phoned the surgeon straight away and he booked me in the next day. When they got in they found it was worse than they thought and that there was a piece of cartilage flapping and a bit of bone had come away.

"When I came round and he told me I was out for six months it blew me back a bit. I was gutted. If it was on the inside then it would be a case of being out for four to six weeks but because it's on the outside it takes that much longer. It's frustrating but it's coming along nicely and I'll be back."