Edman upbeat about recovery
19 Jun 2008 - 11:12:38
Wigan Athletic left-back Erik Edman is hoping to be back in action for the Latics before the end of the year, as he continues his recovery from surgery on a career-threatening knee injury.
The 29-year-old Sweden international made just five appearances for Wigan before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Blackburn Rovers in March.
Edman told the Evening Post: "It's been two months since the operation. I'm now building up the muscles around the knee and at the moment things feel good, there's no swelling or irritation.
"The surgeon took a graft from my hamstring to repair the knee ligament, so that means my hamstring is a little bit weak for the time being.
"That has to heal properly, which takes a couple of months, then I'll really be able to step up my work.
"I'm training twice a day, in the gym in the morning then running and exercising in the water in the afternoon.
"At first I could only do very light weights in the gym, but I'm moved on to some heavier ones now, which is good.
"I hope to be back training with the first-team squad at some point in October.
"If I was playing club football in Sweden, perhaps I would probably need two weeks' training before playing, but this is the Premier League.
"It's tough enough to play there in the first place, let alone after six months out injured, because it's so high-tempo."