Planet Swans ArchivesThe nightmare is finally over for Owain Tudur Jones. After almost two years of injury problems he is now ready to get back into the swing of first team action following a trip to a world famous American surgeon.
Dr Richard Steadman has treated sports starts like American Football stars Dan Marino and Joe Montana as well as Alan Shearer and tennis legend Martina Navratilova to help them return from injury and now the name of Wales’ Owain Tudur Jones is another notch on his scalpel.
It was New Years Eve 2005 when Tudur Jones first went down heavily against Swindon and since then, a couple of short false dawns apart, he has sat on the sidelines watching his team mates battle through play offs, cup runs and now almost to the top of the league. Maybe there is some irony that they could return to the top on Friday night – it was at that position that Tudur Jones left them on that day back in 2005 when the side seemed destined for a second successive promotion.
Much has passed under the bridge since that date but as Tudur Jones declares himself ready to join the Martinez revolution he is just glad to put the last two years behind him “If I hadn’t gone over to America then there was a very good chance that I wouldn’t play again,” he told Wales on Sunday.
“Since coming back I haven’t had any reaction in the gym or on the pitch and it’s full steam ahead for me now. He gave me a rehabilitation plan and I stuck by it. Thankfully it has gone really well for me.
“Everyone goes on about how many sports stars he has treated, but people forget the members of public he has also looked after. I know some skiers have come to him after breaking a leg in the Rocky Mountains, so he’s looked after all sorts.
“It just proves he’s one of the best in the business and it seems it was money well spent.
“My body feels ready to be included in the Swansea squad now for the rigours of a full-blown game.
“And I couldn’t say that with confidence going back a year or so. I understand what a big thing it was for Swansea to send me out there at such expense. I will always be grateful to them for that.
“It was a lonely time being injured and I’m just now going to try and enjoy myself with training and look forward to getting some games under my belt,” he added.
“Playing for Wales is a major ambition of mine but that’s not in the equation at the moment because I have plenty of time to make up with Swansea first.”
