TEENAGER Andy Hough is back home from hospital after impaling his hand on a metal fencing.

And the 15-year-old's only concern is that his favourite Bolton Wanderers' shirt had to be cut off by doctors at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

As reported in the Bolton Evening News, Andy, of Hillbank, Halliwell, was playing in the grounds of Astley Bridge Cricket Club when he slipped on the metal fencing.

The spike from the fence went through his wrist and into the palm of his hand.

The young cricketer was kept immobilised at the scene by off-duty firefighter Andy Barker.

A fire crew cut round the fencing and took Andy to hospital with the piece of metal still in his hand.

He was transferred to Wythenshawe hospital where he had to spend the night with the metal in his hand before he underwent an operation the following morning.

Today his father Mr Hough said: "Luckily the spike missed all the vital tendons and arteries.

"It looks as though he will be okay to do his exams at Thornleigh College."

Andy is still nursing a sore hand, with 25 stitches in the wound and he has to keep his arm in a sling.

But it did not stop him going to watch the Wanderers play Arsenal at the Reebok on Saturday.

His mum Maureen said: "He was out of it after his operation but by Friday he was bored and begged to come home.

"He went to the match and went to the cinema on Sunday with a pal."

Andy is being monitored by doctors to make sure there is no infection but his parents are pleased with his progress.

And he has taken all the fuss in his stride. He said when the fence spike went through his hand he could feel it.

"I was climbing down and I looked down to avoid a car parked beneath, when I turned round, my hand was on the spike," he said.

"The worse thing was the doctors had to cut off my favourite Wanderers sweat shirt."