(POINT TO PROVE: Jonny Margetts PICTURE: Action Images)
By Matt Badcock
Jonny Margetts is ready to put a nightmare two years behind him and prove he can still fire in the goals at Boston United.
The 24-year-old striker didn't kick a ball last season after a cartilage knee injury required an operation that transpired to keep him on the sidelines at Scunthorpe United.
It came after a previous campaign that started so well with five goals for Lincoln City, including four against Southport, in the opening month of the season.
That led to a deadline day move to the Iron but he wasn't given regular first team football.
The former Hull and Tranmere forward returned to Lincoln on loan for four games, playing against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter- final, but overall it was a frustrating year.
Now, having missed the whole of 2017-18, Margetts has signed for Craig Elliott's National League North Boston, and is determined it's the right platform to revitalise his career.
“It was tough, especially when you're in the last year of your contract,” Margetts told The NLP. “I was quite unfortunate. I had three or four setbacks. It wasn't the case that at the start of the season I knew I was going to miss all of it.
“When I first did it, it was four weeks, then after that it was another six weeks, after that it was an operation and when I went back in February, I needed another operation. It was setback after setback so you can imagine it takes its toll mentally.
Setbacks
“But it makes you appreciate it more. Now I'm fit and all sorted, I don't take any session or game for granted. I can't wait to play that first game and start enjoying it again.”
While his mates soaked up the sun during the summer, Margetts booked into St George's Park for three weeks to make sure he's in top condition for the big kick-off.
“I did three weeks of rehab there to try and get a headstart and be in the best physical condition I can be,” Margetts said. “I know how important this year is for me. I want to come back and prove a few people wrong and show that I'm back to my best, that I should have been given my chance at Scunthorpe. That's the plan. It's up to me to do that.
“In the summer I had people speak to me in terms of saying, ‘We know your ability, we're just not sure of your fitness'.
“It's a year I want to show everyone, ‘Look, I'm OK. It was just a bad year, I've come through the other side, I'm a better player and a stronger person mentally as well'.”
Margetts says his family's support helped him through and now he's signed for the Pilgrims he's looking forward to that scoring feeling again.
“They've got a really good fanbase and the manager has been really good over the summer,” Margetts said. “He's been ringing asking how things are and said they were really keen to have me and play every week.
“They stood out for me. That's the main thing, I want to play and enjoy it, score as many goals as I can and, hopefully, get the team promoted from a tough league.”
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper which is available every Sunday and Monday
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