Walsall players in T-shirt support for Alex Nicholls
Walsall will offer their support to former team-mate Alex Nicholls after the striker's horror injury, Andy Butler said today.
The Saddlers will wear T-shirts in tomorrow's warm-up for their FA Cup game at Lincoln and before Tuesday's game with Scunthorpe.
Nicholls, who left Walsall for Northampton in the summer, suffered an horrific double compound fracture of his left leg while scoring in the 2-0 win over Port Vale on Saturday after a late lunge from John McCombe.
He was rushed to hospital for an operation – he has also had skin grafts – and is likely to be out for nine months.
And the Saddlers squad will wear 'Get well soon Alex' shirts to show they are thinking of him.
Butler said: "We're going to wear some shirts. It's the least we can do. I texted him and wished him all the best and I'll go and visit him when he gets back home.
"He could be out for up to nine months but it could be a bit less or a bit more. We just hope he gets well soon. I genuinely don't think the defender meant to hurt him, though."
Nicholls made 219 appearances for the Saddlers, scoring 28 goals, before he left for the Cobblers in the summer.
He had already bagged eight – including Saturday's strike – in 19 games for Northampton and is recovering in hospital.
The 24-year-old needed oxygen and morphine during 12 minutes of treatment on the pitch at Sixfields but has thanked well-wishers for their support.
He tweeted from hospital: "Just recovering from my second operation. I am overwhelmed with the calls, messages and tweets and I can't thank you all enough. I am feeling very tired at the minute but will speak to you all soon."
