A PERSONAL video message from the world's fastest man Usain Bolt is helping to speed the recovery of City of York Athletic Club teenager Tom Somers.

Surgery on a hamstring injury has kept Somers sidelined since the end of February, but the 17-year-old's rehabilitation work was given extra impetus by words of support from Bolt, the world record holder over 100 and 200 metres.

Yearsley-based Somers underlined his huge potential when he clocked 20.37 seconds in the 200 metres at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Oregon - ranking him second only to Bolt as the fastest 17-year-old of all time.

The pair share a sponsor - Puma - and the sportswear company arranged for Bolt to record a message, which lifted a surprised Somers when it landed in his email inbox.

"It was a bit weird to think he was talking to me, but it's a really nice video of him wishing me all the best with the injury," said Somers, who recently returned to the track for light work with his City of York coach Geoff Barraclough.

"In it, he talks to me about how he has been out for long spells with injury in the past, saying it is something that a lot of people have gone through.

"It's great to hear his experiences, and also to know he went through a similar situation and has come back in the form of his life."

Somers' run in Oregon ranked the Queen Ethelburga's student in the top three the country last year, behind only Adam Gemili and Danny Talbot, and earned him a place on the UK Athletics Futures Programme for prospective Olympians.

However, his 2015 season was curtailed at the Sainsbury's Indoor British Championships in Sheffield in mid-February, when he pulled up 40 metres into the semi-final with a hamstring problem.

"It's been frustrating because it feels good and feels fine, and I want to get back into it," said Somers.

"It is six or since weeks since the operation and last week was the first week of starting to do some work.

"It's the first major injury I've had and I think I need to read my body better. I was maybe a bit tired (going into the semi-final) and I've got to learn from that.

"I have got a rehab schedule to work on now and, hopefully, I will get a race in before the season ends in September."

Somers was among the winners at the Active York Sports Awards on Saturday, scooping the Young Sportsman of the Year title.

Club-mates Scott Lincoln (Sportsman of the Year) and Chelsea Walker (Young Sportswoman of the Year) were also honoured, while several other athletes were shortlisted.

Somers said: "It was a good night for City of York Athletic Club. It's great that we've got a lot of quality athletes and that they are being recognised."