RISING Villa star Gary Gardner has revealed he had his “head against the wall crying” during the darkest days of his injury hell.

Gardner has been buzzing since arriving on the first-team scene with one start and three substitute appearances during the past month.

And the 19-year-old midfielder insists his emergence is all the sweeter given his gruelling battle to recover from a severe knee problem.

Gardner spent a year on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury sustained early in 2010 but is now reaping the rewards of his rehabilitation.

“The injury was a bad one, I did my cruciate,” said Gardner.

“My family, brothers and everyone around me kept my head up high and kept me strong, along with the coaches and the medical staff here.

“I am the sort of lad that’ll just keep working hard. I would have days when I would have my head against the wall crying but you get those days and now all that hard work has paid off.

“I am just proud to have made my full debut. That injury problem is all behind me now and my knee is stronger than ever.

“The staff and the physios have worked wonders with me.”

Gardner made his full debut in the win at Wolves and stepped off the bench to play at Chelsea, Bristol Rovers and Arsenal.

But the teenager, who is expected to be a substitute against QPR tonight, is determined to stay in Alex McLeish’s plans and is striving to improve by learning from his experienced team-mates.