Jack Earing: Walsall midfielder happy to be back after 'horrible' 10 months out with knee injury

Jack Earing has scored four goals in 68 Walsall appearances since joining from National League side FC Halifax in 2021

Walsall midfielder Jack Earing says he would "not wish on anyone" the trials and tribulations of dealing with a serious knee injury.

Earing made his competitive return for the Saddlers in Tuesday's FA Cup second-round tie against Alfreton after 10 months out of action.

"It's a lonely place in the treatment room," the 24-year-old told BBC Radio WM.

"I just want to kick on now and get some minutes under my belt."

Earing had last played for Walsall in their 2-1 win over Mansfield Town on New Year's Day and has spent the time since then battling back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

He said the mundanity of rehabilitation was made tolerable by the medical staff at the club and being able to go through the process with the help of other players who have had similar experiences.

"There's lads who've been here recently who've had ACL injuries - Joss Labadie (now at Solihull Moors) and Conor Wilkinson (now at Motherwell) had them last year - so it was nice to chat to them about how they sped up the process and came back quicker," Earing said.

"It's the longest I've ever been out. I don't wish it on anyone - it's a horrible injury."

'A bomb had exploded in my knee'

Earing, who began his career on the books at Bolton Wanderers, said he was hit hard in the injury's early stages.

"When I got the news over the phone, I broke down in tears," he said.

"The initial report came back and, basically, a bomb had exploded in my knee.

"But I went to see the surgeon in London and he said there was nothing really to worry about - it was just a simple ACL reconstruction and that settled my head.

"So, when I had the operation, I knew it was just a straightforward rehabilitation so there were no difficulties."

Now back with a taste of first-team football, Earing is targeting an attractive-looking trip to Championship side Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup - providing Walsall can get past Alfreton first.

Tuesday's stalemate was played three days after the original tie was called off at the last minute because of a frozen pitch at the non-league club's Impact Arena.

Earing says the Saddlers "know we can do better" and are looking to "put that right" in the replay at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday.

Having been forced to sit out Walsall's fourth-round tie against then Premiership side Leicester City shortly after getting injured last season, Earing is determined not to waste the chance to face the Saints.

"I've been working 10 months for opportunities like this," he said.

"I missed the Leicester game last year and had to watch it from the sidelines and it was a mental thing for me to push on and come back stronger and better.

"It's a proper carrot to aim for at Southampton and I'll be pushing to start in the team - I want to do well for this club and prove myself."