Stags’ defender Elliott Hewitt has expressed his gratitude to the management, staff and players at One Call Stadium – as well as his family – for their personal support following news of an ACL injury which will sideline the 28-year-old for at least nine months.
The versatile player – who scooped four Player of the Season trophies at the club’s annual awards dinner on Monday – sustained the injury last month in Stags’ 2-1 defeat at home to League Two champions Leyton Orient.
Hewitt was given the news of his serious injury last Friday, on the eve of Mansfield’s match at home to Harrogate, and told iFollow Stags: “It was obviously a big blow. I had an idea it could be that [an ACL injury] but I didn’t want to think the worst. I got told the news and it’s heart-breaking, but it is what it is, that’s football.
“Everyone’s ‘got round me’. A few of the lads rung me on Friday when they found out. They’ve been really good to me.”
Speaking about the first steps in his rehabilitation, he said: “I have to get my leg as straight as I can, get the swelling down and then it’ll be all right to operate on.
“I’m looking about five weeks to get the operation. I’ll get a holiday in before then, rest up and ‘crack on’ with the rehabilitation afterwards. There’ll be bumps in the road, I expect that. But I have good people round me and a good family.”
The ex-Notts County defender has been Stags’ standout performer this season after performing consistently to a high standard in numerous defensive positions throughout the campaign.
When asked about the highlights of the season, he said: “The last-minute equalisers at Stockport and Bradford, four-nil away at Carlisle, the win at Swindon. There have been a few good days.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed playing games and I just need to concentrate now on getting fit, towards the back end of next season I hope.”
Hewitt says he’ll be watching from home on Monday when Stags travel to Colchester for the final game of the season, needing to win and relying on other results to stand any chance of a top seven finish.
“It’s a big game on Monday,” he said. “I’d love to be out there and help the lads. We’ve just got to do our bit and win the game. We just have to do what we can do and hope other results fall into place.”
