Aspinwall making progress

Nov 14 2007 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

INJURED winger Martin Aspinwall could make a Giants Super League return ahead of schedule.

The 26-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in the clash against Warrington Wolves on July 8, with fears he could be sidelined for up to 12 months.

A major knee reconstruction proved a complete success, despite the former Wigan star’s surgeon admitting it was one of the worst injuries to the joint he had seen.

But although Aspinwall will not join the rest of the squad for the start of pre-season training next week, the Giants are now hoping the Great Britain winger could be back before the end of March.

“We’re delighted with the way Martin is progressing,” said Giants football manager Stuart Sheard. “When he first suffered the injury, there was a time when it was feared it could end his career.

“But now we are hoping he will miss only the first few months of the season.

“We obviously don’t want to tempt fate at this time, because there’s still a lot of hard work ahead for Martin and it’s only when the knee is put under real pressure we’ll see how successful the surgery has been.

“But the signs at this stage are certainly very promising.

“He comes over to the club about four or five times a week and is working alongside physio Greg Brown, who’s doing a tremendous job with him.

“Yet, at the end of the day, it’s down to Martin and his attitude. That’s what the key to all this will be.

“I know he’s fully aware that in Rod Jensen and our new signing David Hodgson we have two players who will be starting on the wing for us.

“It’s obviously up to Martin to come back, force his way into contention and show everyone that he deserves to earn back his spot. That’s the challenge.”