IT has been six months of highs then lows for young Wanderers forward Zach Clough but now he is raring to get back on track.

The 20-year-old burst onto the scene in emphatic fashion at the turn of the year, netting on his senior debut with the winner against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round clash at the Macron Stadium.

Just days later he was rewarded with an extended contract until 2017.

The Denton-born academy graduate would go on to net another five goals in nine games inside two months and looked on course to end the campaign as the club's top scorer.

But a cruel injury blow against Reading in early March saw him dislocate his shoulder and his season was ended prematurely.

It was a big blow for Clough as he looked to establish himself as a first-team regular.

But that low is now behind him and the young striker is chomping at the bit to get back to prepare for his first full campaign in the senior ranks.

Clough told the club: “I’ve never had a first team pre-season, so that’s something I’m really looking forward to.

"It’s something that will stand me in good stead for next season and make sure that I’m ready to go from the first game of the new campaign.

“It’s been a bit of a mad year when you look at it.

"Last July the lads were in Sweden and I was up at Lancaster University with the Under-21s but this year I’ll be on tour with them.

“It’s been a crazy turnaround but that’s what football is about and we love it."

It may have been a blistering start but Clough could be forgiven for losing that loving feeling when he was forced off just before half time in the 1-1 home draw against Reading.

It had already been an extraordinary first 45 minutes for Neil Lennon's side with defenders Kevin McNaughton and David Wheater both forced off with injury when Clough made it an unwanted hat-trick of first-half substitutions.

He admits it remains a painful memory to have his season curtailed in such unfortunate fashion.

Clough said: “The game against Reading was one of the most surreal halves of football I’ve ever been involved in.

"To lose Kevin McNaughton and David Wheater was hard enough but then to get injured myself was a massive blow.

“When I was on the pitch, right away I knew something wasn’t right.

“I was in so much pain and I was just desperate for the doctor to put it back in place.

“When it was back in I was relieved but then there was the realisation of everything that just happened and it was all a bit of a painful blur.

“I was absolutely gutted when they said my season was over.

"I was just getting into my stride and was really enjoying my football, so it was difficult to take."

After extensive rehabilitation, Clough is expected to be fully fit to start pre-season alongside his team-mates and is already looking forward to being back in the thick of the action –particularly at the Macron Stadium in front of the home fans.

The youngster is targeting more success in front of goal next season and gunning to be top of the scoring charts for the Whites to help Lennon's men challenge at the top end of the Championship.

And if last season is anything to go by, the Macron faithful could see the rising star finding the net on a regular basis.

All six of his first-team goals came on home soil with two braces against Wolves and Watford.

And the former youth team star, who has been at the club since the age of nine, admits he loves playing in front of the Wanderers fans.

He added: "Next season for me, I’ll definitely be going for top goalscorer.

"I seem to love scoring at home as well but there’s definitely no better feeling than celebrating with your own supporters and hopefully I’ll be able to do it a lot more come August.

"Next season is going to be a big one for the club and the players but I’ve got every confidence we can get back up there to where we belong."