Cahill could return 'within four weeks'

Posted Friday, February 26, 2010 by PA

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has revealed Gary Cahill could return to action within four weeks.

Cahill's season - and hopes of making England's World Cup squad - were feared to be over after a blood clot was discovered in the defender's arm earlier this month. But Coyle has remained optimistic about Cahill's prospects of playing again this season and confirmed the 24-year-old could be back by the end of March.

"We did the scan on Thursday and Gary will now go another two weeks without any contact but from that point he will be able to come back and join in with the group," Coyle said.

"I'm envisaging, fingers crossed without getting too far ahead of ourselves, that possibly Gary could be back within four weeks.

"Ideally I'd like him back earlier but we have to make sure Gary is fine.

"A specialist in the field has looked at him and there was a little bit of his rib when he turned that was catching on the blood flow to the vein, which caused the clot.

"Gary had an operation to remove that little bit of rib and the blood is now free-flowing, the clot is totally dissolved and the vein is in perfect order.

"The reason for him to have a couple of weeks' rest now is because of the operation and making sure that everything in that area is sealed. But he should be up and running and ready to go from there, which is great."