THERE'S some good news for a popular Mottisfont footballer whose soccer career was suddenly cut short when his left leg was shattered in a tackle.

Michael Jackson's Mottisfont have reached the Southampton Senior League Cup Final at the St Mary's Stadium next month and a testimonial match will be held in his honour in May. Jacko's leg was broken in seven places when he was playing for Romsey-based Hunters FC in a Sunday league game last November. Since then he has undergone ten operations, including skin grafts, and is still waiting to see whether he will need further surgery.

Winchester City - one of the 27-year-old's former clubs - have arranged the testimonial for Jacko, who is likely to be disabled for the rest of his life. The testimonial has been arranged for Saturday, May 6 at Winchester City's ground at Abbotts Barton. The gates open at 1pm and the main match, kicking off at 3pm, will feature around 40 players from the clubs he has represented in the past. Jacko has worn the shirts of Weymouth, Bashley and Lymington & New Milton as well as Mottisfont and Winchester City.

"It's going to be a fun day for families and an all ticket job. For the under 12s it will be free, while others will be asked to make a £5 donation,"said Michael.

Before the testimonial, Michael has another big game to concentrate on - 'Font's cup final clash with Vosper Thornycroft Reserves at St Marys on Wednesday, April 19. "Well done to the Mottisfont team and the management for getting through to the final," he said.

"I would have loved to have played in the cup final. It's a bit of a choker for me really. I am sad that I can't play but I will be cheering Mottisfont on. I played in the early rounds of the cup, so I did a bit for the team."

Michael said there is still a lot of uncertainty about his injured leg but he is now managing to get out and about a bit - with the help of crutches.

He said: "It's still a bit of a nightmare at the moment. I have still got an open wound and I haven't got any feeling down there. The skin has not taken properly and I face having another skin graft. The doctors are going to do a nerve conductor test on my leg. I am still limited to how far I can walk. I have got to build up the muscles in my left leg again. I have been told by doctors it's all been trying to heal up too quickly."

Doctors treating Michael say his injuries were on a par with those received in a car and motorcycle smashes and he will have a 'severe' disability in his left leg. Michael is currently undergoing physiotherapy sessions and he has problems with foot drop in the affected leg.

Tickets for Michael's testimonial are now available - feel free to give him a call on 07780 688954.