Tony Clubb set for comeback after seven months out
Tony Clubb hopes to draw a line under seven months of frustration this Friday night.
The prop is set to make his long-awaited return to the Wigan team for his first game since before the lockdown in March.
Clubb initially feared his season would be cut short by a back injury – a disc pressing on the spinal cord – but has been cleared to return to action.
He was due to face Catalans last Thursday but, after that game was postponed because of Covid-19, is now in line to make his return in Friday’s match against Salford at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm).
And he said: “I had wrapped my head around not playing again this year, so to be told I could play was great, and unexpected.
Unfortunately last week's game was taken out of our hands and it didn’t happen. But we get a crack this week.”
Clubb explained why his return was so unexpected, having initially been sidelined in March.
“During lockdown, I had five months without any problems with my back and I thought it had healed,” he said.
“Then the scans showed it hadn’t, and I was advised to give it more time, so I went back doing my usual training.
“When I went back a few weeks later, I went in there expecting not much to be honest, but he told me the disc had come off the spinal cord and I could resume, which was great. The surgeon hadn’t seen anything quite like it before.”
Read unlimited Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors stories for less than 70p a week by subscribing to our sports package here