Ronan Curtis Returns to Full Fitness After Knee Surgery

Ronan Curtis insists he is back to his “fully fit best” after summer knee surgery – and his start to the season for Plymouth Argyle is backing that up.

The 30-year-old winger, who made his move from Port Vale permanent in January, went under the knife in the close season to finally sort a meniscus problem that had dogged him for a year.

“The knee’s good,” he told BBC South West, a simple verdict after a complicated spell.

Curtis revealed he first suffered the slight meniscus tear in last year’s pre-season but chose to grit his teeth and play through the pain, managing the issue across the campaign. He still produced two goals in 23 appearances in all competitions for Argyle as they battled through the season.

The price was paid between games. Swelling. Tablets. A constant battle just to get on the pitch.

“It was something that I did last pre-season,” he said. “I could play through the pain just managing it through last season. It was something that I needed to get done in the summer because the odd time it would swell up and taking too many tablets to get me through games and stuff like that, but I'm all fit and healthy now.”

The decision to operate has already reshaped his start to this campaign. Curtis has started all five of Argyle’s League One fixtures, a sign of trust from the coaching staff and of his own belief that the knee problems are behind him as the Pilgrims open with two wins and two defeats.

“But I managed to get it done this season, get the surgery and back to my fully fit best now,” he said. “I have all faith in myself to come back stronger, fitter and much better.”

For a player who thrives on sharp movement and intensity out wide, that confidence is as important as any scan result. Argyle will now hope that a fully firing Curtis can turn a solid start into something more ambitious as the season gathers pace.