YOUNG Albion star Solly March has revealed his fear about the injury which ruled him out for 11 months.

The winger was worried he would never reach the same heights again after suffering serious knee damage.

His concerns have been dispelled by his contribution to the Seagulls’ promotion, an England under-21s recall and the young player of the season award, selected by boss Chris Hughton and his coaching staff.

March, 22, suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at Derby last season.

The Hailsham-born talent told The Argus: “It was tough, more mentally than physically. It took a few months, even to start walking again.

“It was a long process and in some of the early months you are feeling the worst, thinking if you are ever going to be the same again.

“It’s always in the back of your mind but the good thing is, with sports science now, even a few years before my injury, there have been a lot of players coming back and performing, so that gave me a bit of confidence and hope that I would get back to that level again.”

March has scored three goals in 23 League appearances in Albion’s rise to the Premier League, as well as a spectcaular strike on his return to England under-21s duty in a friendly against Denmark.

But it took a while to regain complete confidence the injury is behind him.

“It was a few months after I came back, just getting back to it, knowing your body can cope with 90 minutes,” he said.

“That’s when I realised I would be okay and fit. I still have to do a lot of strength work now to keep my knee strong. It will probably be an ongoing thing for the rest of my career.”