After 15 weeks on the sidelines, striker Jake Cassidy returned to first team action on Saturday, playing 45 minutes against Crewe Alexandra.
It has been a long and windy road for the former Wolves man who sustained a broken leg in the win over Fleetwood Town back in August.
The striker has worked tirelessly around the clock to get himself back in contention for first team football and he could not be more happier.
"I’ve done very well to get back but it disappointed me massively when I heard the news. The first six or seven weeks were agonising but you realise it is only going to get better.
"I did well in the rehab and my mental state was good all the way throughout. I got good support from people around me and from the club as well and it went fast in the end.”
However, despite returning, the 22-year-old still knows there is a long way to go until he fulfils his full potential.
He said: “I like to think I’m a fit person but it might take me a while to get back to the tempo I like to play at.
“I try and work hard in every minute of every game and hopefully I can start that on Saturday and it might not be too long.”
With Michael Higdon out of tomorrow’s game with Sheffield United, Cassidy could be thrown straight into the action.
"We are going there as the underdogs, there is no hiding that but it might suit us. It takes our mind off the league and what a game to go into,” he commented.
“The lads have been brilliant this week. Everyone is on side and we just have to put the negatives behind us and push on now. Hopefully we can get a result there and get a good tie in the third round.”
Watch the full interview on Latics PlayerHD.