Academy second-year scholar Kyle Hammond says being offered a professional contract by the Blues helped ease the pain of rupturing an anterior cruciate knee ligament and facing the prospect of up to nine months on the sidelines.

Hammond underwent surgery in London last week having suffered the injury during the U18 side’s 3-1 defeat at QPR.

The 18-year-old previously missed 12 weeks of the early part of the season with a similar injury to his other knee, having been with the first-team squad throughout pre-season and on the bench as the Blues lost 2-0 to Stevenage in the Capital One Cup in August.

“It’s starting to sink in and I’m still trying to get my head straight,” the former Westbourne High School pupil told the club site.

“Nine months out of football is going to be hard. But if I do my rehab properly I’ll come back stronger.

“I’ve got to take it as it comes and come back next season flying hopefully and get where I want to be, which is in the first team.”

He added: “I’m obviously delighted to have been offered a pro contract. I’ve grown up with the club and it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

“Obviously I was gutted to get the injury but being offered a contract helped ease the pain and the manager was great with me.

“He spoke to me a couple of days after I got the injury and just said 'you’ll be fine, we’ll still stand by what we said', and he’s done that by offering me a deal to stay.”

Meanwhile, former Blues striker Ronan Murray has been nominated for the League One Player of the Month award.

Academy graduate Murray, 22, who joined Notts County following his release by Town last summer, scored five goals in four starts and one sub appearance during March.

Overall, since moving to the Magpies, the Irishman has made 10 starts and 10 sub appearances, netting nine times.

Photo: Action Images

WhoisJimmyJuan added 11:41 - Apr 2 Good management of Hammond. How frustrating about Murray! He was given a chance to prove himself and fell millimeters short. Hindsight might prove mm wrong on this but it was a close call for me.
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SuperTommySmith added 13:02 - Apr 2 I disagree in regards to Murray. Players can have a purple patch over a month, if he maintains that kind of form over an extended period then perhaps you could argue mm was wrong.
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Daz added 14:32 - Apr 2 Murray has scored 9 out of 20 games in div 1. Just happened to score more in march. He is still a young striker with more seasons needed to see how he turns out. Good luck to him, hope he progress.
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TR11BLU added 14:36 - Apr 2 Was that 'mm' millimetres or Mick Mac @ whoisjimmyjuan?!
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blueherts added 17:24 - Apr 2 We got Jack in the wings
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Michael11 added 18:35 - Apr 2 I also think this is great management from McCarthy. Don't think Ronan Murray was ever going to break into our first team and still don't think he'll become a Championship player. Jack Marriott has much more potential and is more prolific.
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Seasider added 18:57 - Apr 2 If I remember Ronan Murray had a few first team games,but unlike Jordan Rhodes didn't feel he would make it big time;but it doesn't matter what we think its MM who makes the decisions,and he has done pretty well up til now! Must remember also that he has been with Notts County since last August,after being turned down the previous month following a trial at Hibs.He is also playing in a lower division;but good luck to him and hope he gets League 1 Player of the Month.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:17 - Apr 2 Tr11 blu: millimeters! Lol Agree with these posts. I guess what I really mean is it would be Sod's law if Murray made the grade cos mm (mick) had a good look at Murray and had to make a call. But Marriott looks better.
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Solly added 14:05 - Apr 3 I'm up at uni in Notts and have covered a lot of Notts County games this season for the student mag. Since Derry took over, Murray has featured heavily, and recently he has been little short of sensational. Quality finish at the weekend, two vital goals away at Crewe etc. Five goals in four games when you're where they are in the table is not to be dismissed. If he keeps them up, he'll be a hero. The only strange thing I've found about the whole scenario is that Kiwomya, who bought him in and clearly knew him from his time with us, barely used him at all, when clearly, he might have helped keep him in his job.

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