IAN McParland hopes Adam Nowland can recover from his latest injury setback and get back to his best for Notts County.

The 27-year-old midfielder is facing six weeks on the sidelines after tearing a hamstring against Luton Town on Saturday.

McParland was hugely impressed with Nowland's performances in the first two league games of the season, against Bradford City and Darlington.

And he is desperate for him to rediscover that form and earn a longer deal at Meadow Lane, having only signed a short-term contract until Christmas during the summer.

The Magpies' boss said: "In pre-season and in the league games he has been excellent. He makes us tick.

"He's not a box-to-box man but he gets on the ball and makes the right passes at the right times."

Nowland has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and had played only 25 league games in four years, during spells at Gillingham, Nottingham Forest, Preston and Stockport.

He was sidelined for 14 months after breaking his leg in January 2006.

McParland said: "To be fair to him, he is playing for next to nothing. It says a lot for the lad.

"He is just desperate to play football. He wants to kick-start his career. He is going to be out for a few weeks but hopefully he can get come back and carry on where he left off because he was playing well."

Jay Smith looks set to replace him for tomorrow's League Two clash against Shrewsbury Town at Meadow Lane.

And McParland says Gavin Strachan, who is out with a hamstring injury, is edging closer to a first-team return.

"It's difficult but we just have to get on with it, whoever comes in," said McParland.

"Jay Smith replaced him last week at Luton and did very well so hopefully he can carry on in that vein.

"Hopefully in two or three weeks we will have Gavin Strachan back too."