A bitter-sweet month for Nathaniel Atkinson has seen the Tasmanian A-League star nominated for Young Footballer of the Year but also suffer a major injury.
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The Riverside Olympic product was nominated for the national award after a superb March during which his Melbourne City surged up the ladder on a club record six-game winning streak.
However, the 21-year-old suffered a high-grade hamstring tear against Wellington Phoenix in early April which will keep him out for two to three months.
Atkinson said on Instagram that the injury was season ending.
"My season has come to an end," he said. "From missing the start of the season with a low grade tear to missing the end of this season with a much higher grade hamstring tear is shattering.
"I'll be back stronger. My focus now is to get my body and mind to peak fitness ready to be in contention for the Olympics.
"As the saying goes: a minor set back for a major come back."
The A-League reported that Atkinson touched the ball more than 90 times in all five games in March while also creating six chances and claiming one assist.
It added: "His best performance came against Central Coast Mariners, when City dealt the league-leaders a 2-0 defeat at AAMI Park. Atkinson contributed to his side's clean sheet, enjoyed a 100% tackle success rate, took 96 touches, passed 74 times at an accuracy of 91.9% and scored the second goal."