Defender moving in the right direction
Will Nightingale has made good progress from a serious knee injury and he hopes to step-up his recuperation later this month.
The 20-year-old Dons academy product knows there’s still some way to go before he’s back out on the pitch again, but a real positive is that Nightingale can start running again in just over two weeks.
Nightingale was in positive mood about his recuperation when we caught up with him at the Kids Cup tournament yesterday, which was organised by the AFC Wimbledon Foundation at Southfields Academy.
Speaking to Dons Player, Nightingale said: “I was on crutches for six weeks and that was very tough because I was limited with what I could do. It was the hardest thing for me because you want to be doing something productive. That was the toughest stage, but I have come through it now. I have been in the gym for the last three weeks and doing some tough bike sessions to keep my cardiovascular fitness up. I’ve not put any weight on, which is good.
“Two weeks from Thursday I can start running again, which is another good step and something to look forward to. I just have to build it up from there. I know I still have a little way to go, but it’s a positive that I can start running again. I am hoping to catch the last month or two of the season.”
Nightingale suffered a cartilage tear in his knee during the win against Notts County in September after enjoying a run of games in the first-team.
Cleves School, based in Weybridge, won the Kids Cup yesterday and they will go through to a regional stage of a tournament that offers the ultimate prize of a Wembley final, thanks to a national initiative run by the Football League Trust.
Striker George Oakley is set to return quicker than Nightingale and he will soon start running again after making good progress from the hamstring injury he suffered while on loan at Kingstonian last month.
The full interview with Will Nightingale is now on Dons Player.
A full write-up on the Girls and Kids Cup competitions will feature on the official website later this week.