Macari injury adds 'fuel' to promotion push - Paterson

Lewis Macari is the grandson of former Manchester United midfielder and ex-Stoke City boss Lou Macari [Getty Images]

The horror injury suffered by Notts County's Lewis Macari at Colchester has given the Magpies added incentive to get promoted to League One, says boss Martin Paterson.

The 24-year-old defender suffered a serious leg injury in the first half of a game that Notts went on to win 1-0 to ensure their bid for the top three and automatic promotion would go to the final day.

Macari has played a major role in keeping Notts up there among the contenders.

He has made 40 appearances in a campaign that was hit by controversy in October when handed a suspended three-match ban after pleading guilty to a catalogue of historical betting breaches.

"We, as a football club, supported him through a tough time and he has paid us back no end with his endeavour and his quality at time, because he is underrated," Paterson told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"We now have a common goal, to do it for those ones that can't be out there to do it.

"We have to flip this really bad moment, this and negative moment of him hurting himself into a positive for the football club and for him - to give him a chance to maybe play at a higher level.

"Let's use it as fuel."