• World Cup

Doctor says he can have Walcott fit in four months

ESPN staff
January 8, 2014
ESPN FC: Life without Walcott


A Scottish surgeon is to contact Arsenal and tell them he can save Theo Walcott's World Cup.

The England forward has been ruled out of the rest of the season as well as the summer showpiece in Brazil after rupturing his cruciate knee ligament in Saturday's FA Cup win over Tottenham.

But Professor Gordon Mackay says that by using an internal brace the injured knee, he can have the Walcott running again in as little as 12 weeks.

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"Arsenal will have their plans in place for Theo Walcott's recovery and these are always sensitive issues," Mackay told the Daily Mail. "But we would like to inform the club of this different approach."

The procedure involves device being inserted into the knee, instantly stabilising the joint and allowing rehabilitation sooner. The ruptured ligament would re-attach itself naturally to the bone and Walcott could progressively increase his workload.

Mackay's previous patients to undergo the revolutionary surgery include Scotland rugby player Max Evans, who was back playing within six months, and British bobsleigher John Jackson, who suffered a ruptured achilles tendon in July and was back in action by October.

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