PETER Murphy admitted the help of his team-mates is getting him through his horrific knee injury.
The 18-year-old hot Accrington prospect snapped his cruciate ligament playing for the reserves in October and looks likely to be out for the rest of the season.
It is the first major injury the youngster has had and he admits it has been a hard time for him.
But help has been at hand.
"I did get the worst kind of injury. I snapped the cruciate ligaments in my knee and they had to rebuild it with my hamstring. It was a three to four hour operation.
"It was a huge blow for me but I am now in rehab and all the lads have been great.
"Rocky (Robbie Williams) especially has helped me through as he has had a few knee operations and keeps asking how I am and telling me what I should be doing.
"It’s been really good for me. We are becoming best mates!
"Granty (Bobby Grant) also had a knee operation and he was reassuring me too but all the lads have been nice and loads of people have been talking me through it. It has helped me a lot."
There were high hopes for the Liverpudlian this season after he made his Accrington debut, at 18, last season.
He had been at Wigan as a schoolboy and then was offered youth terms at Blackpool.
"I couldn’t afford the digs to move to Blackpool and I had known Jimmy Bell for a while and he brought me for a trial at Accrington and I was offered a deal.
"It was huge to make my first team debut aged 18 at Wrexham. I didn’t know I would be in the team and when John Coleman read out the team I was nervous but also excited.
"I thought I did okay and we got a win so that was nice.
"Then I have been in every squad this season until the injury.
"It was weird as I just went to change direction against Carlisle in a reserve game and heard something snap in the back of my knee.
"I had never been injured before and had no idea what to expect. I was stretchered off and, after 15 minutes, the pain had gone so I thought I might be okay.
"Then the next day it stiffened up and I had a scan and was told the news.
"Trust me to get the worst injury!
"But the surgeon has told me not to rush back. He says he thinks it could be next season so I will keep up the rehab and then hopefully get a pre-season under my belt next year and be ready to go again.
"And, although the gaffer said it was a blow, he has told me to concentrate on getting myself back and fully fit.
"My contract is up at the end of the season so we shall have to wait and see but I am only young and hopefully everything will work out well.
"It is frustrating watching Accrington when you are injured because I want to be part of it but it just wasn’t meant to be for me this season."
And while he may not be able to play football, he has his eye on improving his golf.
"I am an okay golfer - I can beat everyone at the club anyway. At least I will have time to practise my putting!"
