James Wesolowski given time at Town

The Australian midfielder is currently recovering from a twice ruptured cruciate knee ligament and has been ruled out for the season.

Wesolowski has played just three times before suffering the same injury at Barnsley in September.

He's one of 17 players out of contract in the summer and is likely to be approaching full fitness when his deal expires in June.

Manager Micky Mellon has promised the 28-year-old he will get the chance to prove himself again.

The Town boss said: "The main thing for 'Weso' is to get him fit. Let's not cloud it with anything else. We just need to make sure we get everything right with him and that's what we'll be doing.

"He's been a massive loss to us for two long periods now and it's easy to forget we've lost one of our best players.

"He'll be beyond the fitness levels he was before because he's that type and he'll come back full of desire to want to make up for that time lost.

"It's a question of getting him right first. It's day to day with him because we were just getting him going again then bang, he was out."

Mellon revealed Wesolowski, who is to do a charity walk up Snowdon in April, is currently doing some 'festive' work as part of his painstaking rehab.

He said: "It looks like he's towing a big weighted sledge, so it's quite apt for this time of the year! He's charging up and down the corridor like a madman!"

Mellon won't put a time limit on Wesolowski's return, adding:"I won't be putting a time limit on it, look at Nat (Knight-Percival). Cruciate ligament injuries are bad.

"So he's doing more of the same. No-one will understand what he's going through and what it takes to dig so deep with the desire he has, unless they've been through a serious injury like that.

"It's really impressive but he gets a lot of support; the lads all encourage him and some join him to keep him moving ahead."