Dominic Samuel believes he will come out of his long-term injury as a more mature person and footballer.

Samuel sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in August and is set to miss the whole of the 2018/19 season.

The 24-year-old admits he has had to curb his enthusiasm to get back out on the training pitch until his knee is fully healed.

But after undergoing surgery in September, and coming off his crutches earlier this month, the striker feels he is moving in the right direction.

He explained: “The one thing with these long-term injuries is that it changes you as a person and a player.

“I will go in to 2019 all guns blazing and make sure I’m fully ready for the season that I’m back.

“Mentally it’s made me so much stronger and made me more mature. There are positives from long-term injuries, it’s not always a negative thing when you’re out for a long time.

“I’ve got my family and people here that have been supporting.

“Elliott Bennett has been through things like this before and is a very experienced player and when you have people like that around you then it’s easier to go through.”

Samuel suffered the injury in the 2-2 draw with Reading in August and is targeting a return to training in April.

He met with a specialist earlier this month, a meeting which he says has helped, as he continues his rehabilitation at the club’s training base.

“The rehab is coming along nicely, my leg strength is coming back,” he added.

“In the next few months I know I’m going to be saying to the physios that my knee is fine and I think I am ready to go and train.

“But there will be times when they’re telling me I’m not there yet.

“I think that’s why you have to be patient and make sure that your knee is right.

“As a player you just want to play football and get out there as quickly as possible.

“At the same time it’s your career and you have to make sure you do things right and you are 100 per cent when you get the green light from the physios who know better than you know.

“It’s a big injury and when you come off the crutches it is still in your head that you’ve hurt your knee but when the specialist tells you that you’re able to progress in the gym then it settles you well.

“Sometimes you need the specialist or physio to tell you what you need to do step by step and how you should deal with your knee.

“Once you’ve had that chat then your mind is in the right place and you’re going in the right direction and doesn’t make you think too far in front.”

Samuel is hoping to take advantage of a rare Christmas without involvement for the first team by returning home to spend time with his family.

And of a possible return date, he told the club website: “Every time I see a ball around I just want to go and kick it.

“I’m so giddy to get out there but at the same time I am a few months away from being back on the grass.

“I’m trying to aim for April but at the end of the day it will be when my knee settles.

“As a player you’re trying to push on and get back playing but at the back of my mind I’m telling myself that I’ve had a big knee injury and you need to take your time more and go through the paces and when your knee is right it’ll be right.

“I’m trying my best to get out there as quickly as possible.”

Samuel has been doing his rehabilitation alongside midfielder Ben Gladwin who is also recovering from a long-term injury.

On their relationship, he added: “We’ve been training every day together this year, and when you’re in the same room with someone every day then you create that bond.

“We’ve been pushing each other through, and supporting each other and that’s the main thing.”