Vickery set for return after five months
PHIL VICKERY has set his sights on winning back his England place after pencilling in a return to action with Wasps this weekend.
The 34-year-old prop is hoping to return for Wasps’ Premiership match at Worcester on Saturday, five months after suffering career-threatening shoulder and neck injuries.
Vickery underwent surgery on his neck for a fourth time after sustaining the injury in the Challenge Cup victory over Racing-Metro on 11 October.
In all, it has restricted the former England captain to just three matches this season, while missing the last eight England internationals.
But Vickery has made no secret of his desire to win back his England place and is targeting a place in Martin Johnson’s squad for the five-match tour of Australasia in June.
Depending on how Wasps fare in the Guinness Premiership and Amlin Challenge Cup, Vickery will have between four and seven matches to impress Johnson and stake his claim.
Vickery’s absence has coincided with a disappointing run for England, who won one of three November internationals and finished third in the Six Nations.