Aviva Premiership
Tigers ready to unleash Benjamin
ESPN Staff
July 25, 2013
Miles Benjamin touches down for Worcester, Worcester Warriors v Bucharest Wolves, Amlin Challenge Cup, Sixways, Worcester, England, December 17, 2011
Miles Benjamin has had to over a year for his Tigers debut © Getty Images
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Leicester Tigers are hopeful winger Miles Benjamin will be fit to play in late September, a full 14 months after he originally joined the club.

Benjamin arrived at Welford Road from Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2012-13 campaign but he broke his toe before the start of the season and then sustained a serious neck injury during his comeback game in the A League. With Benjamin sidelined, the Tigers have turned to the likes of Vereniki Goneva, Niall Morris and Adam Thompstone for pace on the flanks.

But Tigers boss Richard Cockerill is optimistic his winger will be back for the opening rounds of the new season. "Miles will be playing from middle-to-late September," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury. "It's a similar injury to the one that Tom Croft had and we are being cautious with his return for obvious reasons.

"It can be an injury that could heal relatively quickly. But with Tom, he was three to four months behind schedule and Miles is the same. It is just down to the way it heals."

And along with Benjamin, the Tigers are hopeful a number of their first-team players will be fit for their season opener against Worcester Warriors on September 8. "Louis will play a part in pre-season, certainly the last two games," Cockerill added. "Ant Allen has had knee surgery in the summer.

"He is doing well and will also play a part in the last two pre-season games. Mat Tait has had a clear-out of his ankle to get rid of some debris. He will be fit for the start of the season and Ed Slater should be fit too. It's unlike us - but we are relatively fit and healthy as we prepare for our first serious game."

The Tigers will also have Ryan Lamb at their disposal who has joined from their East Midlands rivals the Northampton Saints. He will look to vie with Toby Flood and Dan Bowden for the fly-half berth and his former Gloucester and now Tigers team-mate Allen is relishing the chance to link-up with his friend once again.

"I am looking forward to linking back up with Ryan, he came on in the final for Northampton so it was quite nice to play against him as it has been over the years," Allen told Sky Sports. "Hopefully he can settle down at the club - as obviously he has been around a few clubs - really work on his game, push on and develop a bit more. I think he is at the right club to do that and you never know what could happen."

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