IT was an evening that all those who witnessed it will struggle to forget. For more than an hour, Darlington defender Nicky Hunt received treatment on the pitch at Blackwell Meadows, having been knocked unconscious by an accidental collision with an opponent from Boston United.

The wait for an ambulance seemed like an eternity. The moments when Hunt slipped in and out of consciousness seemed to go on forever. Yet for the person at the heart of the drama, the events of November 10 are far from unforgettable. In fact, Hunt cannot remember a thing.

“Honestly, the only thing I can remember about that evening is driving to the game with the lads in my car, and then waking up in the hospital,” said the 37-year-old, who is hoping to get the go-ahead to return to Darlington’s squad for Sunday’s glamour FA Cup second-round tie at Bristol Rovers. “It’s literally an absolute blank.

“They say it happens a lot with head injuries – I might get the memories back, but more often than not, it’s just erased, which is very strange. I’m just relying on what people have told me, and watching the incident back.

“I’m speechless really because I don’t know what to say. I can’t remember anything. You try to piece things together – can I remember being in the changing room before the game? No. Then you go backwards. Can I remember getting out of the car? No. All I can remember is driving to the game – it’s really surreal.”

Nevertheless, having been rushed to North Tees Hospital, from where he was discharged in the early hours of the following morning, Hunt is well aware of just how serious the incident might have been.

Thankfully, Darlington's sports therapist, Danny O’Connor, was onto the pitch within seconds of Hunt collapsing to oversee his treatment, and his conjunction with his opposite number from Boston, he was able to ensure the stricken centre-half received the treatment and care he required.

“I speak to Dan about it all the time, and he talks me through exactly what went on,” said Hunt. “Macca (Tony McMahon) was there for about an hour, he says, he was there with me, and you’ve just got to thank everyone involved really, which I have done numerous times.

“I’ve spoken to the Boston (medical team), and thanked him from the bottom of my heart. Without him, Dan and the medic team, it could have been a lot, lot worse.”

Hunt has had two weeks of rest in order to comply with the FA’s medical protocols, but he was back at Blackwell Meadows last night and is hoping to be passed fit for Sunday’s FA Cup tie, when Darlington will pit their wits against League One opposition for the second round in a row.

Quakers proved too good for Swindon Town in round one, and Bristol Rovers are currently two places below the Robins in the third-tier table.

“We’ll be trying our best to get the club through to the next round,” said Hunt. “The third round is when all the big boys come in, and it would just be fantastic to get one of them, especially away.

“Even though there’s no fans in – although there might be up to 4,000 fans in depending on who you get – it would be great to play at one of the big grounds. But we’ve got a massive task ahead of us, we know that. Sunday will be a very tough game.”