Drew Mitchell on brink of extraordinary comeback to Wallabies after amazing recovery
An amazing recovery from injury could see Drew Mitchell back representing Australia in the near future.
Source: AP
DREW Mitchell could return for the Wallabies in a matter of weeks after a bizarre recovery from a season-ending ankle injury.
It was thought the Wallabies winger would need surgery and potentially be sidelined for a year after rupturing a tendon against the All Blacks.
But after getting a stability boot taken off this week before a possible operation, Mitchell experienced no pain and he even resumed running.
Scans after the injury at Eden Park revealed the ruptured tendon, but doctors believe it may have been ruptured since the start of the year, when Mitchell re-injured the same ankle he broke last year.
Mitchell subsequently missed most of Super Rugby but made it back for the Waratahs late in the year, and then also returned to the Wallabies side.
"The doctors had a thorough look and now we think I might have ruptured the tendon back in February and this was just a ligament strain around the same site," Mitchell said.
"It's not certain what is providing the support but I am not feeling pain when I run, and it feels good."
If the diagnosis is right, Mitchell returned to full action without the tendon for NSW and the Wallabies and he is now aiming to do the same again.
He is uncertain of a return date for playing, but Mitchell is hopeful of getting back into Wallabies colours in the Rugby Championship, or possibly on the Spring Tour.
"There seems little point in having surgery when it is feeling good, so I am just going get back into training and go from there. I'd rather give it a shot and see how it works out than go straight under the knife and have a lengthy layoff," MItchell said.
