Harrogate Town goalkeeper James Belshaw receives 'better news' following X-ray of thumb injury

A fracture to his left thumb, plus damage to some of the surrounding ligaments appeared likely to rule the 29-year-old stopper out of the club’s first-ever Football League fixture on September 12.

Yet, having been examined by a specialist, Belshaw has been told that he could be in with a chance of featuring against Southend United in the 2020/21 curtain-raiser - a historic fixture for the Wetherby Road outfit.

“I’ve seen a specialist today [Monday] and had an X-ray that revealed that there’s a fracture to my thumb and partial tears in two of the ligaments,” Town’s number one said.

“If I’d fully torn them away from the bone, I’d have needed surgery, but the specialist doesn’t think I will need it, which is better news than I was expecting.

“I didn’t think there would be any possibility of me playing at Southend, but depending on my recovery time, I might have half a chance, so I feel a bit more positive about the situation.”

Having been virtually ever-present between the sticks since his arrival from Tamworth in the summer of 2017, the role which Belshaw has played in helping Town to two promotions in three years cannot be understated.

And the ex-Walsall custodian, who is quite literally the first name on Simon Weaver’s team-sheet every week, admits that he has been left frustrated by the timing of the injury.

“Obviously I’m desperate to be involved in the club’s first-ever Football League fixture, I’m gutted at the prospect of missing out,” he added.

“When you’ve worked so hard for something for three years, been fortunate enough to feature in nearly every game and played a big part in a team’s success, of course you’re disappointed when something like this happens. I really want to play.

“But, injuries are part and parcel of football and I’ve been fairly lucky throughout most of my career.

“If I can’t play then Crackers [Joe Cracknell] will get a chance to show what he can do and I’ve every confidence in him.”

The injury that Belshaw sustained occurred during Town’s first training session since they reported back for pre-season, just a fortnight on from their historic National League play-off triumph over Notts County at Wembley.

“I basically took a shot to the thumb,” he explained.

“Someone struck the ball from close range and it’s caught my thumb. I’ve hurt my hands and fingers plenty of times but straight away this felt different. I knew I’d done something.

“I was planning for an operation, but for the moment my thumb is in a plastic cast and hopefully it will heal quickly.”