Jack Lankester has received a major boost in his bid to return to action after being given the all clear to resume full training with the Ipswich Town squad.
The youngster, who burst onto the scene last season, hasn’t played a competitive game since the loss at Blackburn in January 2019, with a stress fracture in his back discovered soon after.
That injury ruled him out for the remainder of his promising debut campaign and, after he returned during pre-season in Germany last summer, a second fracture was discovered and he underwent surgery, which has kept him sidelined since.
However, nearly 15 months on from the initial injury, he has now been given the green light to return to first-team training by specialists following a scan conducted in London prior to the coronavirus lockdown.
MORE: The entertainers – Town named as one of the most entertaining sides in Premier League history
Lankester will have to wait to get back out on the grass with his team-mates, though, with football currently suspended due to the ongoing pandemic.
The Blues were originally due to return to Playford Road next week but that date has been pushed back until the end of April, when it could very well be delayed further.
The Ipswich players are undertaking home fitness plans, designed by the club’s medical staff, with injured players supplied with all the equipment and guidance they need to recover.
Lankester has always been optimistic of playing again during the 2019/20 campaign and, following the news of his scan, he has a good chance of achieving his goal, if and when the campaign is safe to be resumed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here