As he starts recovering from a broken shin, Carshalton Athletic midfielder Jerome Walker replays the moment of impact every day.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury at Faversham Town in February as a reckless challenge prematurely ended his season.

The match was abandoned after Walker received lengthy treatment on the pitch – and it was replayed on March 24, with Robins losing 5-0.

Faversham raised £250 for Walker, which they handed over on the night of the rearranged game.

Walker said: “I replay the incident in my mind every day.

“I’d just released the ball as their guy charged in. I couldn’t move my standing leg out of the way because the state of the pitch and I was caught full on.

“I knew something had broken and I only looked down at it once, but that was enough.”

Walker holds no grudges against Faversham’s Matt Bourne, who was sent off for the challenge, but his surprise about the match going ahead remains.

“I saw a man rolling sand on the worst areas when we arrive and I said to my team-mates it looked nowhere near playable – it felt like playing on quicksand,” he added.

Walker was taken to Ashford hospital and diagnosed with a clean break before being discharged on Sunday, but he ended up back in hospital later that night as the pain returned with a vengeance.

“I spent a further four days in hospital,” said Walker who was then offered an operation by doctors which could speed up recovery time, but at a potential cost.

“They said it could take a month off the healing process but would have involved procedures that could possibly hinder my return to football and cause me trouble later in life,” Walker said.

“Football is important, but foremost I want to be able to walk properly so I decided to let nature take its course.”

Walker has not been a stranger to Colston Avenue since the injury, turning out on crutches to support his team-mates, and beinf overwhelmed by the messages of support he has received.

“Everyone at the club has been fantastic, but I want to extend particular thanks to [physio] Warren Filmer and [team captain] Tony Sinclair, both of whom stayed by my side the whole time,” he said.

“I also want to thank our fans, the Faversham fans for their generosity and those from the wider football community, for their thoughts and prayers too.

“You have all helped me see past the initial disappointment of this situation and I am determined to get back into a Carshalton shirt and begin repaying everyone in the future.”