Tudur-Jones In Battle To Save Career

Owain Tudur-Jones is hoping a top American specialist can cure his career-threatening knee injury.

Owain has had the problem for the last 12 months or so and it has limited the young midfielder to just 6 games this season.

Dr Steadman has built a reputation as being the world's top knee surgeon and previous clients include Craig Bellamy, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Alan Shearer and Roy Keane.

An operation on his chronic knee problem will mean a long rehabilitation process which is likely to sideline him for the rest of the season.

Jackett said: "We needed a second opinion on Owain's knee injury and there is nobody more qualified than Dr Steadman,''

"We will obviously have to wait for the outcome of the consultation to see how we progress, but the club is doing everything in its powers to safeguard Owain's long-term future.''

''We'll be surprised if Owain plays again this season,'' Jackett added.

''He is a talented lad and we would be sad to lose him, so we're looking long term in the hope that this works and we can get him back. The fact that we've sent him to America shows how much we think of him.''

Physio Richard Evans also said: ''I wouldn't say this is the last chance,''

''But there's no hiding from the fact that Owain's got a career-threatening injury.

''He has a joint-surface problem, and there's no procedure that can rectify the problem in professional sportsman.

''Having said that, players have come back from it.''

''We want to give him the best opportunity because he is a lad with massive potential,''

''We had the option of going to see Dai Rees in Oswestry, but Owain wanted a second opinion from the man who has pioneered this kind of surgery.

''Richard Steadman has got the likes of Alan Shearer, who had all kinds of knee problems, and Michael Owen back playing."

We wish Tudur-Jones all the best in his recovery and hope we'll see him back in a Swansea City shirt before long.

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