Freakishly, Crewe Alexandra will entertain Brighton again on the opening day of the season. It is amazing that the fixture list has thrown up that meeting once again, but for Nicky Maynard it will a chance to put last season's horrific injury well and truly behind him.

Maynard was looking towards another successful campaign only to break his leg in the opening 20 minutes of our first game. The injury, which kept him for the next four months deflated everyone associated with the club and by his own admission it took Nick a while to get back into the swing of things.

The 21-year-old returned to form at just the right time, with his late flurry of goals playing a major part in seeing the club escape relegation. Maynard has told Crewe Alex World that he won't be fazed by a reunion with the Seagulls on the opening day of next season.

Nick exclusively told us: "It was a little bit freaky to see we had Brighton again on the opening day of the season, but that's football and it doesn't really bother me. It won't affect me after what happened last season.

"The injury is well and truly behind me now. It is done and dusted and I'm fully recovered and looking forward to next season. For me it is just a normal opening game of the season that just happens to be Brighton again."

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