Woodgate relieved to avoid surgery for thigh injury
Defender Jonathan Woodgate says he is relieved he is unlikely to need surgery for a long-standing thigh injury and should be able to make his debut for Real Madrid before the end of the year.
Defender Jonathan Woodgate says he is relieved he is unlikely to need surgery for a long-standing thigh injury and should be able to make his debut for Real Madrid before the end of the year.
"I want to get back to playing as soon as possible and after what I've been told I think I will be able to do that sooner than any of us thought," Woodgate told Spanish sports daily Marca on Tuesday.
"It's great news and I'm sure everything will go fine. It's always good if you can avoid surgery and I'm now really keen to get on with the rehabilitation."
The 24-year-old centre back, who has been on the sidelines since tearing a muscle in his thigh in April, was flown to the U.S. for specialist treatment after suffering a recurrence of the injury in training last week.
Following a detailed examination of the player on Monday, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation said they believed he would be able to play before the end of the year, although they did not completely rule out the possibility of surgery.
"At this time we have recommended a modified rehabilitation programme and anti-inflammatory medication in anticipation that he should be ready to play in eight to 10 weeks," read a statement by the clinic.
"If this second rehabilitation programme does not succeed, surgery would be indicated. But this type of muscle injury is extremely common and rarely requires surgery."