A CONWY footballer has set his sights on the JD Welsh Premier League as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury.

Jack Roberts had surgery to repair a torn cruciate ligament suffered during Rhyl’s friendly match against Liverpool U23s in 2016 shortly after signing for former boss Niall McGuinness.

The Welsh Colleges international had to wait 21 months for the procedure after a series of delays, but he has now sets his sights on a return to football in the coming months following an intense period of rehabilitation.

Roberts, said: “Recovery is going really well, I have been following strict training programmes and the physio believes that I am well ahead of the recovery process, which is great to hear.

“The consultants have given me a strict day by day training and strengthening programme. The muscles’ surrounding the knee have to be as strong as possible before returning to the game as well as full range of movement. The current date to be back is January 2019.

“Goal for me is to be back playing in the Welsh Premier League. Day by day training regimes and short-term goals have been set which will hopefully enable me to achieve this.”

The former Conwy Borough standout was regarded as one of the top young prospects anywhere in the region thanks to a number of dazzling displays for the Tangerines in the Huws Gray Alliance before arriving at the Belle Vue Stadium.

He has been widely linked with a move back to Y Morfa as current boss Gareth Thomas looks to re-establish the side within the second tier, but Rhyl director of football Eddie Maurice-Jones also stated he will be monitoring the situation closely ahead of a possible return to the Lilies fold.

“Hopefully Jack will able to step up his recovery in the coming months. As a club we wish him all the best in returning to the game and we will look out closely at his progress,” he added.