Wigan Athletic star lifts lid on miraculous return

Under normal circumstances, Chey Dunkley doing heavy leg presses would be nothing out of the ordinary.

But coming just 26 DAYS after suffering a broken leg at Reading – and only 24 days after undergoing major surgery – this was something else.

And speaking exclusively to the Wigan Observer, the big man has revealed a positive mental attitude has been at the heart of his remarkable recovery.

“My leg feels fine at the moment,” he said. “I’ve started rehab and it’s all going according to plan.

“We’re three and a half weeks since I had the operation, and we’re all pleased with the way it’s going.

“I’ve been down in London, for the initial phases of the rehab, and further down the line, I’ll then be looking to return to Wigan for the later stages of my rehab.

“Obviously the players are isolated at the moment, and I’d be doing one-on-one work anyway, so it’s not like I’m missing out on anything.”

It’s been an incredible few weeks since Dunkley was stretchered from the field at the Madejski Stadium, having come off second best in a sickening collision with team-mate Cedric Kipre.

At the time, Dunkley was immediately – and obviously – ruled out for the rest of the season. However, given the current climate, and his faster-than-expected recovery, he may even be fit by the time football returns.

And the former Oxford man has lifted the lid on where the inspiration to get back on the horse so quickly has come from.

“It was a clean break, and there wasn’t much movement from where the bone was broken,” Dunkley said.

“It’s not like it was left jagged, it was a straight line break, and from what I’ve been told by the surgeon it’s been a success.

“After day one of my rehab, I went to see the surgeon in the evening, and he was delighted with how it’s healing.

“I’m a good healer, and it’s obviously nice to hear things are going well.

“Everything that’s been thrown at me so far I’ve accomplished, and you want it to be a straightforward recovery, rather than setbacks.

“Now it’s about working hard within reason, because I don’t want to go too hard and risk doing any damage.

“I was actually very lucky the injury has been so straightforward. Obviously no injury is good, but the bad ones are ACL, ankle, Achilles...a broken leg is probably easier to manage.

“I’ve always been a positive person and I always try to see the positive in things.

“And I think it’s important to have that mentality when you’re injured, because there’s a mental as well as a physical barrier to overcome.

“That’s always been a part of my character, I’m very strong mentally, and it’s been great to have the support of the lads as well.

“Watching them go on such a good run before the season was postponed gave me an extra boost, and to stay positive.”