Exeter City midfielder Nigel Atangana has suffered a tough eight months, rupturing his Achilles while playing for Cheltenham Town away at Crawley Town.

Since getting injured, the tough-tackling midfielder has worked his way back to fitness and is now back in training, as well as being set for his first run-out of the season in Cheltenham Town U23's Premier League Cup game against Aston Villa.

Atangana is a powerful central midfielder, in the same mould as former Manchester City man Yaya Toure, and Exeter fans will be intrigued to see what their French midfielder, who was Matt Taylor's first summer signing, will bring to the side if he can break into it.

Atangana has been warming up with his Exeter team-mates over the past two games as he continues to head towards recovering from injury, and he's set for a return in the coming weeks as Exeter's first team looks to bounce back after a first loss at the weekend.

Atangana said: “It has been really difficult. Obviously the lads have been really nice with me, the gaffer as well. He told me to take my time and not rush myself and obviously the team are doing well, so that has helped me a lot.

“It is not the best situation when you love football and you have a long injury. It was my first one as well, so that made it harder.

“I was positive from the start, but the most difficult thing was wanting to play football and I can’t. When you love football, you want to play as soon as possible and the fact you have to wait is frustrating. But that is life, it is done now and I can’t wait to get started.”

The Verdict: 

Atangana will bring a lot to the side as his powerful, bulldozer-like approach protecting the defence will bring a new dimension to the Grecians midfield, and he'll turn out to be a good signing for the club if the midfielder can start the way he ended at Cheltenham.