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.