Lightning does not strike twice? Try telling that to Alan Navarro.

The Albion midfielder is coming to terms, for the second time in his career, with an injury dreaded by the modern day footballer.

When Navarro, 29, crumpled to the ground in the Carling Cup at Northampton earlier this month, he had a pretty good idea what damage had been done.

Back in 2002, just after the start of the season, the influential Liverpudlian ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee playing for Tranmere.

Fast forward to 2010 at the Sixfields Stadium and it is a different club and different knee, but the same cruel injury.

Navarro’s recollection of the moment his campaign was wrecked remains vivid as he embarks on his rehabilitation.

“I just remember planting my foot, trying to check to go with their player and then hearing either a pop or a click in my knee,” he said.

“I knew straight away. I did the same thing to my other knee exactly eight years ago, when I was at Tranmere.

“That time my knee got caught when someone was tackling me from behind. This time around it was more painful, because I have partially torn the medial ligament and the meniscus (outside ligament) as well.

“We were hoping it might have just been a medial ligament, maybe cartilage, and something like six to ten weeks out. That was our best hope. Obviously it was the worst scenario.”

That is the bad news. The bolt of lightning is accompanied by a cloud with a silver lining. Navarro appreciates what lies ahead and his season is by no means over.

“I know what is expected now, what I have got to do for the next six months,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy mentally, coming in every day and watching the boys training, not being with them. I have got to deal with that first, then the physical work comes in.

“The operation the first time took four hours. This time it was an hour and 20 minutes, which shows how much things have come along.

“It’s still six months because of things like the blood flow in the knee. I like to think I am quite a quick healer and I’ve got a target in my mind.

“Any time in February I am looking to be back playing, but somebody is going to come into my position, so obviously it will be hard to get my place back.

“I’ll be working to get my place back as soon as possible. I am not going to be sitting around, no chance. There is still a lot of football to be played and if the chance comes I’ve got to take it.”

That is fighting talk from a player who was expected to play a key role in Albion’s campaign from the position he occupies in front of the back four.

Navarro sensed that too, with a proper pre-season under his belt. “I was feeling good and the team was looking good, strong and confident,” he said.

“Suddenly, with a couple of suspensions as well, you are on the ropes but I still think things are looking good.”

Challenging times are ahead for Navarro. Everyone at the club is doing their best to make him still feel a part of things, but he has to balance his desire to be back in the fold with a realistic approach to his rate of recovery. “Everybody has been great with me,” he said. “The players come in every single day and ask how I am. We’ve got a close group of lads here.

“The staff have been great, on the phone to me with anything they can help out with. Everyone is trying to make it as comfortable as they possibly can for me.

“It’s just mentally myself now. I have just got to be prepared, have it in my mind that there is six months hard work to get myself back.

“The gaffer has also said if it is not six months then to make sure, what ever I do, that it is right. Obviously I don’t want to have to have another op.”