Derby County: George Thorne offers help to Will Hughes

Injury restricted George Thorne to just three appearances for Derby last season

Midfielder George Thorne hopes his experience of serious knee injuries will help Derby County team-mate Will Hughes in his recovery.

Hughes, 20, damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Derby's opening game of the Championship season against Bolton.

Thorne has previously returned from two long-term knee injuries.

"I would like to believe he can look at the regime I followed and believe it does work," he told BBC Radio Derby.

"It's a devastating injury and having been there myself it's horrible to know that a young lad lad like Will is going to have go to through it. "

Will Hughes has made 122 league appearances for Derby County since his debut in 2011

Thorne returned in February from a six-month lay-off with a cruciate knee ligament injury picked up just a week after joining the Rams from West Bromwich Albion.

The 22-year-old was also sidelined for eight months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in February 2013.

England Under-21 international Hughes has been ruled out for six months, and Thorne knows the importance of keeping him involved.

"They are a very common injury now throughout the game," Thorne added.

"You never want to be isolated. It's hard when your team-mates are going to away games and you are in on a Saturday morning on your own, and that's something we are going to have to help Will out with."