Great to be back — Thompson

IN his own words forward Liam Thompson is “ready to go”.

Talking publicly for the first time of the horrific facial injury that cut short his season by three months, the Oldham RL player spoke of the long haul back to fitness after surgery to repair a cheekbone fractured in three places.

The operation at Manchester Royal Infirmary in mid-March involved the use of surgical plates to rebuild and strengthen one side of his face. Thompson (22) could do only limited exercise for several weeks after leaving hospital, but he has gradually built up his programme of rehabilitation over the past month.

“I’ve been in full training for a week and a half and all is well,” said Thompson. “I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to getting out there and getting my first game out of the way. I’ve been cleared to play but when I do is down to the coach.”

Thompson, in his second season at Whitebank, was injured in the 20-20 draw with Hemel Stags in the first home game of the season.

“It was a freak accident,” he said. “Kenny Hughes slipped me a short ball and was smashed by a defender as he let go. He was thrown into me, we clashed heads... and I hit the deck with a sore face.”