Jamie Fullarton understands Will Hayhurst injury woes

Notts County boss Jamie Fullarton says he understands the pain Will Hayhurst is going through as he too has suffered knee ligament injuries.

The former Preston North End winger, 21, is undergoing rehabilitation for his own cruciate problem, and is not expected to be fit until the summer.

He has also not kicked a ball competitively for Notts since April 2015 and is out of contract at Meadow Lane at the end of the season.

Fullarton said: "I've spoken to Will and having suffered injuries myself, cruciate on both knees in particular, I can offer advice and guidance on the way forward for him from a football point of view.

"We have a fantastic setup here in terms of sports science and medicine which only reinforces the message they are saying.

"It's like when I tell my son to do something he doesn't listen or believe, but when he listens to the same thing from a teacher he listens to them. 

"So when you have a football-minded coach or manager who can relate to a player and his situation, it reinforces what he is being told. Will has to be patient, but he is working hard on a daily basis.

"It's tough mentally as opposed to recovering physically, but he is coping very well with that because John (Wilson) and Becci (Knight) are giving him coping strategies and helping him when it's tough. He is making good progress.

"We are patient, he's not. But you have to hold players back. We've got to make sure when he is back, he stays back. We don't want any other issues because we have a duty of care. 

"To be fair he is listening to those with his best interests at heart. I've been through it and I can sympathise with him. 

I did both of my cruciates. I understand the process and the anxiety that goes with it. All I am doing is reinforcing what the medical department is telling him."

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