14:59 Joe Rimmer

Dowell thanks Baines and targets comeback

Kieran Dowell returned to football in style on Saturday afternoon, curling in a stunning effort against Stoke City.

“It’s really good to be back,” he said.

“This is the longest injury I have ever had – three months. I have only ever been out for a month before. So it was all new for me but I am delighted to be back.

“I was training with the first team and I went for a ball. Unfortunately I have gone to ground and snapped the ligament, which meant I had to have an operation. It was a bit of a nightmare really!

“My target now is to get fully fit as quickly as I can and then get as many games as I can. I need to catch up all my minutes in training and we’ll see what happens. I want to keep plugging away at having opportunities to train with the first team.

“Bainesy has had the same injury that I had.

“I was with Leighton almost every day so you do get to know each other – and sick of each other in the end!

“It was great to be able to talk to him every day and learn from him. He gave me some really good advice. He just told me to use my time wisely and turn everything into a positive, which is what I have tried to do.”