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" I'm buzzing to be honest, I've just seen Dolly (Neil Dalton) this morning and all my results have come through from Lilleshall rehabilitation, and I have got the all-clear to start pre-season straight away as soon as we get back on the 2nd of July.
" I was just training one day and I felt a bit of a jar in my knee from just running, apparently I had a hole of cartilage underneath my kneecap that had been split open. It was causing my bones to basically lock and a few pieces of cartilage were floating about which were causing it to lock as well. I couldn't really put much pressure on and it was swelling, basically my joints were locking as I was running so that's really the ins and outs of it. As little as it sounds it just caused a really big effect on my running ability.
" The surgery was to remove the pieces of cartilage and I had microfracture surgery which drills into the bone to make it bleed again, and then to make it heal again. I think that's why it took me so long because I wasn't allowed a full knee extension, I had to keep it at 40 degrees for a good two months. That was the main reason why it was a slow healing process because I couldn't bend it fully at first.
" I missed my running to be honest but I'm there now so I'm just really happy that all the rehabilitation has gone through really well. It's given me a bit of time to go in the gym as well, I'm not massive but it does make a difference so hopefully I can come back a lot stronger and a lot fitter.
" You test yourself a little more than you should but I have done everything that Dolly has told me, he has been behind me all the way. I've been to Lilleshall twice now and they have been really impressed with my progress so I haven't really overdone it. I've just stuck to what everyone has basically told me to do. "
" It was quite frustrating for me last season because I thanked Neil (McDonald) for giving me a run in the team as soon as possible really. I needed to take my chance and I thought I was really doing quite well actually with the games that I was given. It was a big frustration for me because I was starting to find my feet. I was getting a buzz from the crowd which I always get anyway, that keeps me going to be quite honest.
" It was just really good to be in the starting eleven, that's what I've always wanted and I've always wanted to just enjoy myself running at people on the pitch. It has been frustrating but sometimes you have to take the lows with the highs. I think I've dealt with that quite well, I've had all the support from my family and friends, and the fans, and I'm back on track now I hope.
" Sometimes you come back and you think can I still do this or can I still do that from an injury. I've been through it once before though and I came back strong so I'm sure I can do it again. I've got my faith in the Lord as well which plays a massive part in my life, and my family and my girlfriend. Coming back I don't feel like I've got anything to prove, I just want to go and do what I was doing when I was playing to be quite honest.
" I've thought about the mental side of it, a lot of the time when people have injuries they come back hungrier. I am actually so hungry to play now it's unbelievable, I'm going through summer now while everyone is wanting to take a break and to be quite honest I just want to get back playing. My hunger is still there now and hopefully I will come back fitter and stronger which I'm looking forward to. "