FRESH from scoring a hat-trick against Liverpool on Sunday, one of the Premier League's rising stars has reached into his pocket to help out an injured Somerset footballer.

Young midfielder Harry Walford suffered a serious injury playing for Wellington AFC in their Western League match away to Hallen, on Saturday, October 3.

Walford was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where it was found that he had suffered a broken leg.

A crowdfunding page was set up in the hope that friends and family could chip in, to help cover Walford's loss of earnings, as he will be in a cast for at least eight weeks, and it is uncertain when he will be able to return to work.

Somerset County Gazette:

INJURED: Wellington AFC player Harry Walford

Walford was a part of Exeter City's Academy, and it is another former Grecian who has come to his aid at this time of need.

Ollie Watkins departed Exeter for Brentford in 2017, and this summer he moved to Aston Villa for a club record fee of £28m.

On Sunday the 24-year-old netted three times as Villa hammered Premier League champions Liverpool 7-2.

Not that Torquay-born Watkins has forgotten his roots in the South West, as he donated £500 to Walford's crowdfunding page with the message "Sorry to hear mate. Get well soon."

You can view Walford's fundraising page here.