By Richard Joyce

FOREST GREEN have underlined their commitment to injured midfielder Sam Wedgbury by agreeing a new one-year contract with the supporters favourite at The New Lawn.

After making 38 appearances for Forest Green this term, the 27-year-old suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury during the penultimate game of the regular season, ruling him out for the next nine months.

However, the club have honoured their loyalty to the out-of-contract former Sheffield United man by agreeing terms on a new 12-month deal.

The medical team and coaching staff at The New Lawn are committed to playing a crucial role in helping Wedgbury back to full fitness.

He has made 77 National League appearances in two season at FGR since being recruited from Stevenage in the summer of 2014, and is due to return to first team action in January 2017.

Commenting on the decision for the club to offer him a new contract Wedgbury said: “I want to thank the chairman for being so good with me; Scott Bartlett, all of the staff and the new gaffer coming in.

“They obviously didn’t have to renegotiate with me with the condition that I’ve been in. But over the last couple of years, I like to think I’ve put my body on the line for the club quite a bit and been good doing all of the school visits too.

“With the players we want to keep, we’ll be in a great position next year to hopefully kick on.

“With the new gaffer coming in, he’s going to be bringing in his own players. I’ve spoken to him myself and he seems a really good guy.

“He has high standards, so everything in terms of discipline, shape and everything he’ll look into the fine little details. We will be in a great position to go up.”

While the rest of the squad are now away on summer breaks before they return for pre-season training in the first week of July, Wedgbury will be in working with physiotherapists Ian Weston and Joe Baker throughout the summer.

After a successful operation, he has a clear plan set out for the months ahead as he aims to return to full fitness midway through next season.

“In the first six to 12 weeks it’s just a case of getting the movement back into it – bending and extending and straightening the leg out as much as possible,” he explained.

“I think on six weeks I can get on the anti-gravity treadmill in Cheltenham. I’ve drawn a plan up with Ian and Joe so we’ll see where we go from there.”