David Wheater has dealt Dougie Freedman some good news by returning to full training for the first time in two months.
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering from a knee condition, the centre-half has been passed fit and could come into contention for Saturday’s home clash with Bournemouth.
Wheater underwent surgery to remove a growth on his knee that had developed after he tore his cruciate ligament in May 2012.
He had been unable to train properly for several months – but sources at the club say he is now 100 per cent fit and looking forward to resuming his stalled Wanderers career.
The 26-year-old defender, who penned a new three-year deal last summer, did start the season, playing seven games, but his form suffered because of an inability to train every day. He was placed on a fitness programme, which ended yesterday, and could now provide some relief for a back four currently creaking under the strain of a run of poor results.
Freedman explained Wheater’s absence at the end of last week: “I’ve been told his rehabilitation wasn’t done right and that meant his knee blew up every time he did certain exercises.
“The problem had never really been solved and that meant his condition wasn’t right to handle the workload required to play week-in, week-out, hence at the beginning of the season he was playing a game and then not training. I couldn’t have that.
“He’s been with the sports science department – 24 hours a day nearly – for the last six weeks. Now he’s back fit and in contention. We have got another defender we can benefit from.”
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering from a knee condition, the centre-half has been passed fit and could come into contention for Saturday’s home clash with Bournemouth.
Wheater underwent surgery to remove a growth on his knee that had developed after he tore his cruciate ligament in May 2012.
He had been unable to train properly for several months – but sources at the club say he is now 100 per cent fit and looking forward to resuming his stalled Wanderers career.
The 26-year-old defender, who penned a new three-year deal last summer, did start the season, playing seven games, but his form suffered because of an inability to train every day. He was placed on a fitness programme, which ended yesterday, and could now provide some relief for a back four currently creaking under the strain of a run of poor results.
Freedman explained Wheater’s absence at the end of last week: “I’ve been told his rehabilitation wasn’t done right and that meant his knee blew up every time he did certain exercises.
“The problem had never really been solved and that meant his condition wasn’t right to handle the workload required to play week-in, week-out, hence at the beginning of the season he was playing a game and then not training. I couldn’t have that.
“He’s been with the sports science department – 24 hours a day nearly – for the last six weeks. Now he’s back fit and in contention. We have got another defender we can benefit from.”
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