EXETER City youth team coach Chris Hargreaves is helping Adam Faux return to playing football by modifying protective headgear for the Tiverton Town captain to wear.

Faux, 29, sustained a fractured skull, cheekbone and a broken nose in an assault in Exeter and had to have titanium plates inserted in his head, but has been training with his Tivvy teammates for the last two months

The scrum cap, similar to that worn by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech who suffered a fractured skull after colliding with an opposing player in 2006, has been provided by Hargreaves, who runs the Sports Republic shop in Sidmouth.

"Adam's mum emailed me and explained what they needed and I said I could help. They both came in and said they would pay for it, but there was no way I was going to let that happen," explained Hargreaves, who opened the shop nearly nine months ago.

"It is basically the same sort of thing that Petr Cech is wearing now. It is a Canterbury headguard that we have modified.

"Usually the ears are protected to avoid cauliflower ear for rugby players but we have cut those away because footballers don't need it.

"They are pretty sturdy things. Rugby players wear them a lot and they take a lot of bangs in them, and some footballers have worn them too.

"Adam has emailed me a couple of times to say that he has trained with it and he is very happy with it, so that's good news."

Faux is yet to confirm whether he will make a competitive return or not, but he has stated his desire to play again, and he is running three times a week as he looks to regain his fitness.

But former Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United midfielder Hargreaves points out that it is not just the physical scars that could make a comeback difficult.

"It was such a hellish attack that it must very daunting to go back out there and train and head a ball after that," said Hargreaves.

"The injury was so ghastly that I don't know if he will get back to playing or not. I hope he does, but I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't.

"The headgear has given Petr Cech plenty of confidence and I hope it can do the same for Adam. I just want it to give him the confidence and protection to play again."