The popular goalkeeper was involved in a sickening, accidental, head on collision with Alan Coar in the 30th minute of the game with the Garstang striker also needing stitches in a head wound.

Speaking this week, Michael said “I am not too bad, I am slowly on the mend.”

Recalling the incident, he said “I remember coming out for the ball and thinking I’m not going to make it so I had to throw myself to reach and punch it clear, then bang, me and Alan collided. On the floor, I sat right up and felt the blood pouring out and thought I had just cut my lip until I put my tongue on my teeth and realised, they had been knocked out. There wasn’t really any pain to be honest, I think because of the shock”

Infact, it turned out to be far worse for Michael than he thought” It transpired I had three cuts to the bottom lip, one of them going all the way through. I still have no feeling in my bottom lip as it stands. One tooth was knocked out and two more pushed out their sockets. All told I had 30 stitches in my gums and lip and also suffered a fractured jaw on the left side, at the joint.”

“At present I still have a splint on my teeth to hold them in place and I am due back at the dentist in two weeks to see the next steps. I am grateful to the match referee (Matt McQuillan) for saying to put my tooth that came out in milk. It helped save the tooth. My Mrs walked around the hospital all evening with that cup of milk in her hand!”

It’s likely to be a while before we see Michael in a Heys shirt again “The doctor has said it could be two years before I get feeling back in my lip if at all. I’m looking at getting four veneers for the teeth that are damaged and hoping to get it paid for by the PFA, but we will see what happens. I just have to take it one step at a time”

It goes without saying that we all wish Michael well for a full and successful recovery and look forward to seeing him down at Adie Moran Park again soon.