If Will Nightingale gets his way, he will return to action for AFC Wimbledon like the proverbial phoenix from the flames.

The 20-year-old faces up to seven months on the sidelines after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee suffered in the 2-1 win over Notts County.

It was a bitter blow to the Dons academy product having made the breakthrough in the first team for the second time.

Nightingale’s first foray into the senior action was ended by injury in February after only four appearances.

This time round, the central defender made five appearances before disaster struck.

However, with the support of those around him, and a forward-thinking approach to his predicament, Nightingale is adamant he will be back stronger and better than before.

He said: “It’s tough to take and it’s a big shock how things can change so quickly, but then that shows how much you have to appreciate things when you’re playing.

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“But if I play the way I do, by putting my body on the line, then these things are going to happen.

“It’s one thing to say I am going to learn as much as I can to prevent it happening again, but at the same time it is a part of how I play.

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Last time round: Nightingale in action against Accrington Stanley in January, come February he would be on the treatment table

“I am learning all the time. Apart from that one tackle, where my knee was caught in an awkward place, I have not been in any position to pick up an injury. I’d not been putting myself into silly tackles.”

He added: “But I never get little injuries that keep me out for a couple of weeks, with me it’s either a case of just brushing it off or it’s something serious.

“When it happened, I tried to play through it. I tried to stand up from the initial tackle and I felt my knee give way and there was a serious amount of pain.”

Aside from the support from family and friends, as well as the Dons backroom staff, Nightingale has also sought out a role model in yellow and blue.

And he has chosen wisely, as the man he looks up to has been through exactly the same surgery as Nightingale and is now putting in eye-catching performances for the Dons.

Nightingale said: “Jon Meades is a bit of a role model – he’s had five operations in his career, and the last one he had is the same that I’ve just had.

“I can talk to him about it. I feel like if I am ever in a down place, I can go to him because he has been through it.

“To see he is in the first team now and performing to a high level consistently, it’s an inspiration.

“If I can get back in there, I could be seen as a role model for someone else. It’s just nice to know that I am not the only one that this happens to.”

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Inspiration: Nightingale will look to team-mate Jon Meades to help him out of any down places over the coming months

Good luck messages from the fans have also helped Nightingale’s determination to come back stronger than before.

And although he is on a long road with the horizon a distant dream, Nightingale will be using his time wisely.

“The messages from fans are a massive help, people may think it is just a message, but to me every little thing adds up and it makes me feel good about myself,” he said.

“It makes me want to come back even stronger so I can repay the faith and confidence that people have shown me in the past.”

He added: “There is nothing I can do about the past, and all I can do is look forward from now. I need to use this time to get myself as mentally right as I can.

“And when I can get to the gym, I can start to improve myself physically – I have time to prepare myself for when I come back and make sure I am ready.

“I want to come back and people to realise I have been away – I want them to think ‘wow, look what we’ve missed’ - I want to make an impact.

“I am under no illusions that it is going to be easy, but I am willing to put in the hard graft. I know I will come back a better and stronger player.”