Danny Hylton hopes the worst period of his career is finally over after he made his Championship debut last night to put an end to an 11-month injury nightmare.
The striker damaged his knee in March last year but what started as a standard cartridge meniscus problem developed complications which saw him recover but have to go under knife for a second time in the summer.
Hylton has been back in training for the last two months and made a substitutes cameo in last night’s 1-0 Championship win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
He said: “I love playing at Kenilworth Road, I’ve missed it so much, especially nights under the lights. It’s fantastic.
“My wife and little boy was here and they said it was lovely as well. It was an amazing feeling, I’m just glad on my first game back we managed to get a win.”
The 30-year-old had to watch on last season as Town broke records to take the League One title and book a place in the Championship for the first time in 12 years.
And he’s been so far unable to help as the Hatters have laboured in the second tier, only last night moving off the foot of the table, but with relegation still a very real possibility.
Talking about his enforced lay-off, Hylton said: “I’ve been a crap husband. It’s hard. When you can’t do your job, it’s horrible. I love football and I’m probably the worst person in the world when I’m not playing. I’m moody and grumpy, but my family has been great with me.
“You’ve just got to keep trying to be positive. There are lonely days, long days and times when you think the worst but you just have to keep believing and stay positive.
“That’s why the people at the club and my family are so important. They get you through it.
“It was a horrible time. It was really the toughest time of my career, but it’s behind me now and I’ll look to start getting back into the first team and getting fitter and stronger.”
Asked how he kept his spirits up, Hylton said: “It’s lonely, but you try to stay in and around it as much as you can. The changing room is fantastic, the boys are fantastic. I’ve been here for four years and there are still the majority of the lads here so we’ve got that good relationship anyway.
“I’m just glad for the last couple of months I’ve been fully back. It’s been amazing being back.”
Hylton also paid tribute to the Town staff that have helped with his rehabilitation.
“We’ve got a top medical department, Si (Simon Parsell – Head of Medical), Chris (Phillips – physiotherapist) Daz (Darren Cook – Assistant Therapist), Luke Sanders (sport scientist), Redders (James Redden – Head of Sports Science), they’ve been fantastic with me, they’ve left no stone unturned. They’ve been so detailed with the rehab and the treatment that I’ve had so I’m so thankful to them.
“Hopefully that’s behind me now and we can start moving forward.”
Lovely article. Good to see him back.