Davies' road to recovery and a call from an unknown number

During his time on the treatment table, Dons sacked Paul Tisdale. Though managerial changes are a difficult transition at most clubs, Jack Davies' relationship with new manager Russell Martin though would give heart to the youngster, with the boss reassuring him he would be back with the first team when he was fit and ready.

READ PART 1Going to work earlier and staying later, Davies recovery edged ever closer, and by January he was back out running on grass. He played 45 minutes in an U23s win over AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in February 2020, but once again, his progress was stunted when the country went into lockdown.

Not to be perturbed though, Davies saw it as time to improve himself.

"When lockdown and coronavirus happened, it was a tough time for everyone," he said. "I wanted to use it as time to improve physically, mentally and technically – in every way I could so when I got back, I could hit the ground running.

"I came back for the first day of pre-season training and I felt really good. I was training well and the gaffer was impressed with me."

When an unknown number called his dad's mobile phone in summer, Davies didn't think much of it until he discovered the reason for the call. And it would be yet more reward for his hard work.

"It was the gaffer, and he told him he wanted to give me a deal, that I'd done really well and they wanted to reward me. To sign that first deal after the year I'd just had, overcoming that setback – it was just brilliant for me and my family.

"All those hours you do. When I was in rehab, I was wondering whether all the work would be worth it, was I doing it for no reason. But then something like that happens and it felt like I was being rewarded. I was over the moon to get the contract signed and to become a professional footballer. That has always been my dream as a kid, just to say I was a professional footballer, playing the professional game."

READ PART 3