NICK WEAVER's surgeon believes the Blues goalkeeper could be back in action within nine months of Thursday's ground-breaking operation.
Richard Parker is head of the Orthopaedic Surgery Department's Section of Sports Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and one of the world's leading exponents of meniscal transplantation.
His studies have demonstrated a 75-85% success rate for the cartilage transplant that Weaver will undergo in a bid to revive his career.
"The outpatient surgery involves a 23-hour stay. Patients must use crutches for four to six weeks, and undergo rehabilitation to regain motion and strength. They can return to heavy labour in three to four months, and to sports in six to nine months," he said.
"Clinical studies have demonstrated a 75 to 85 percent success rate for meniscal transplantation. Such injuries can occur at any age, but are most common in people age 30 to 50.
"Younger people tend to injure their meniscus in athletic endeavors, while older people sustain tears from minimal insults, such as twisting while getting out of a chair or golf cart.
Healing
"Because the majority of the meniscus has no blood supply, it is unable to undergo the normal healing process that occurs in most of the rest of the body when it sustains an injury."
Weaver, who has hardly played over the past year due to problems with his right knee, is already in America and thanking his luck that a donor has been found so quickly.
"It is a pretty complex and delicate peration and though basketball players and American footballers have had it, I think I am the first British sportsman," he said.
"There will be no timetable for a full recovery other than the one the doctors set. I know what a year's rehab is like so I am mentally prepared for all the hard work that I will have to put in.
"I realise how lucky I am to be given this chance and I respect the fact that there are a lot of people in the world a whole lot worse off than me."
Nine months would take us to September and the start of next season, so should Keegan hang fire on signing a new 'keeper? Have your say.
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elks, Bolton (06/01/2004 at 13:05)
ian barton, York (06/01/2004 at 13:56)
Cookie, Droylsden (06/01/2004 at 14:45)
alf, buxton (06/01/2004 at 15:35)
Sandy, Dublin (06/01/2004 at 17:51)
With Ellegaard and Kasper being our options I think a loan keeper at this stage would be preferable. Lets remember we are up to the hilt in debt and why add another permenent fixture to the wage bill when it is not necessarily a permanent fixture we require at this stage. If we hadn't sold Nash and given him the well earned chance of securing the first team place for himself this would of course be irrelevant. I won't knock Seaman, cos when what is in front of you is poor you can only do so much, and when everybody tells you you're over the hill at some stage you're going to start believing it yourself. Money should be spent on defence if anything. I'll also add since my last comment on this site after the derby game our performances have improved. Anelka looks more like the player he should be but not at his best yet. Fowler was a lot better vs. Liverpool ( My first visit to COMS, great Stadium). For those knockin Dunne out there for his recent mistake, remember this lad is the most improved player in the Premiership at the mo and the main reason we have been drawing and not losing. Reminds me of Sol Campbell in his latter days at Spurs, he's doing his job but no one else seems to be doing theirs. A call for SWP to be playmaker? My opinion is this is his best position, behind front two. Re: Anelka's goal at Liverpool last season. Top draw. Team selection still a problem. The players can only play in the system they are being asked to. If the system is wrong and the players do not have confidence in it ( comments anyone?) then we are going to continue on our mediocre passage through a stale season. Relegation? Shouln't be an issue but the basics need to be sorted.