Central defender Adam Jackson is battling his way back to fitness and knows he will have to keep fighting to get back into the starting eleven.

Jackson, 23, was arguably in the best form of his career before he picked up a knee injury in October.

His recovery stepped up a gear this week with a return to training.

Jackson said: "I am nearly there. I am buzzing to be back. When I first did it, I was worried that the season could be over for me.

"To be back so early is a massive relief.

"When I first did it, I thought it was just a little bit sore but when I got back on I thought: 'something's not right here'."

Jackson worked his way into the starting eleven at the start of the season despite the competition from Angus MacDonald, Ethan Pinnock, Liam Lindsay and Matty Pearson.

"At the start of the season it was pretty much any one of us could have been playing at the back," he added.

"I thought me and Liam had a good partnership. It was bad timing but it could happen to anyone in football and it could have been worse.

"When the club are playing well you want to be a part of it and when they are not doing so well you want to help the lads and do your bit.

"Hopefully I can contribute a bit more."

Full interview in today's Chronicle.