Moody plots his return to action

Injured England flanker Lewis Moody is raring to get back into action after spending seven months on the sidelines, but has admitted that he is still more than two months away from full-contact training.

The Leicester Tigers star has been battling with a stress fracture to his right foot since England's victory at the Rugby World Cup last November, and his recovery has been frustratingly slow.

The 25-year-old is now out of his custom made medical 'moon-boot' and is now walking without any discomfort, although he is still some way from joining his fellow Tigers on the training paddock.

"The progression since I came out of the boot, cast and crutches is going pretty well," Moody told leicestertigers.com.

"I start jogging on the 19th of July on a spongy track, which is a gradual progression, and I should then be able to run full-out a month after that with a view to full-on contact training towards the end of August."

Moody has won 24 England caps and made a number of industrious cameos during England's march through Australia en route to their rendezvous with the Webb Ellis Cup, but appreciates - both literally and figuratively - that he must learn to walk before he can run.

"My goals at the minute are purely and simply to play for Leicester," he said.

"Getting back into the mix at Tigers and getting some wins under the belt are my major priorities."

Meanwhile, the Tigers have announced that their preparations for the 2004/05 season with include pre-season encounters with Edinburgh and the Cardiff Blues.

Leicester Tigers' pre-season schedule:
(All times are local)

August 14: Middlesex Sevens, Twickenham

August 21: v Edinburgh, Goldenacre (16.15)

August 28: v Cardiff Blues, Welford Road (15.00)