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Phillips eager to get back into action

Wednesday 02nd July 2008

Number one: Phillips is eager to win his Wales and Ospreys shirts back

Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips is set to give his country a timely fitness boost as he aims to return to action sooner than expected.

Phillips established himself as Wales' premier number nine during the Six Nations, having previously struggled to make an impression under former coach Gareth Jenkins.

Having scored the decisive try in Wales' historic win over England, Phillips suffered a nasty injury to his knee a week after the tournament's finale.

There were fears the 25-year-old Ospreys scrum-half might miss the big November clashes with world champions South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

However Phillips is confident he will be back in action in early October at the latest, which means he could well be in contention for the Ospreys' fixtures against Dan Carter's new club Perpignan.

Phillips admits the possibility of facing Carter is driving him on in his rehabilitation programme.

"It's going to be tough but you have to get on with the job," he told The Western Mail.

"Leicester are one of the best sides in Europe, they have been for years now and will definitely be looking to improve on their performance in this competition last year.

"They will also want to get one over on us after we beat them at Twickenham in the EDF Energy Cup Final.

"Perpignan have been to the final of the Heineken. They did well last season and will prove tough opposition no doubt. To win any cup you have to beat whoever the draw throws up."

Whilst Chris Towers, the Ospreys physiotherapist, could not put an exact date on when Phillips will return from his anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, he was pleased with Phillips' progress.

"An ACL reconstruction will always require somewhere in the region of a six-month rehabilitation programme, and Mike is three months into it," Towers said.

"He is recovering well and at this stage is easily achieving all his targets in terms of physical recovery and is starting to develop his strength and power.

"Over the next week or so he'll resume controlled skill sessions, but he is still a long way from full contact work. He is on target to return at the end of September or early October."