Will Hatfield on his injury, recovery, and determination to return
By Max O'Hara & Harvey Richards
Fan favourite talks about season ending injury
Darlington midfielder Will Hatfield has spoken for the first time since suffering the ACL injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
In an interview with Stuart Armstrong, Will opened up about the challenges of the past few weeks, the support he has received, and his determination to come back stronger.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks,” he said. “The first week was hard with the pain and swelling, but things have improved. The club have been fantastic — I’ve had my scan, seen the surgeon, and I’m booked in for my operation on 17 November. It’ll be a long road, around ten months, but I’ve got a positive mindset and I’m determined to get back.”
Will confirmed that the injury is a full rupture of his ACL, but other damage is minor. He spoke positively about his surgeon and his recovery plan, and he’s already setting his sights on reaching 200 appearances for the club.
“I’m 34 now, turning 35 next year, but I still feel good and I don’t want to end my career on an injury. The longest I’ve ever been out before this was six weeks, so it’s going to be a challenge — but I’m confident I’ll be back.”
He also expressed his gratitude to everyone at the club and to supporters for their messages of encouragement.
“The support I’ve had has been incredible — from fans, players, staff, and the club itself. They’ve really looked after me and I appreciate everything they’ve done. Hopefully I can repay that when I’m back next year.”
Watch the full interview below as Will talks through his recovery plan and determination to return to action.
