Bolton Wanderers full back Sam Ricketts is making steady progress as he recovers from from injury, but will not be rushed into making a comeback before he’s 100 per cent.
The former Swansea City defender has been through intense rehab since picking up a serious Achilles tendon problem back in February, so serious in fact that he had to learn to walk properly again. Sam recently went to America as part of an rehabilitation programme, and whilst he hopes to get back for the start of pre-season training, he is aware that he can't rush his return, and will take his time to come back at his very best. "It's not just been a case of mending the Achilles and training again. We found I had actually lost my walking technique and I had to learn all over again," said the Trotters star. "The trip to the US gave me a couple of ideas about my recovery. The club have been great, so I owe it to them to make sure I do this right. It's all a gradual progression but I'm walking well now and it's a case of bringing that into my running. "There's a lot of work in the pool where the bodyweight is taken off, and I've been working on this machine, like a treadmill, that straps me in and allows me to work at 20 percent of my bodyweight. "Of course I want to be back among the lads and out there on the field. I could probably rush things and get back by the start of the season but I'm looking long term. Taking those extra few weeks will be worth it."
