Wigan Warriors ace Luke Thompson opens up on early injury comeback - 'I surprised myself!'
Wigan Today caught up with Luke Thompson after the Wigan Warriors prop recently returned from injury
Wigan Warriors powerhouse Luke Thompson has admitted he ‘surprised’ himself after returning from injury a month earlier than initially expected!
The England international was sidelined after suffering ligament damage in his foot during last month’s win over Hull FC, with an initial recovery period of around six weeks expected.
However, Thompson remarkably returned after just two weeks, first coming off the bench in Wigan’s victory over Warrington Wolves before returning to the starting line-up in last Friday’s 24-10 win over Huddersfield Giants.
“Obviously, I picked up a bit of an injury against Hull, went for some scans, and I had a few ligament tears and stirred up my ankle,” Thompson told Wigan Today.
“They said six weeks, but fortunately enough, I managed to get myself back out there.
“It was pleasing to win at home (against Warrington) and then back it up here (at Huddersfield) after two tough games, playing Saints at Magic and then Warrington.”
The 31-year-old admitted that even he did not expect to return so quickly!
“I surprised myself, to be honest,” he smiled. “The way it felt, I came off against Hull, and I was on crutches for that first week, but then I managed to get walking again.
“I got out there for a run and thought I could probably get through here, so I did everything I could with the medical staff, trying to get the swelling out.
“I did everything I could to get back out there - I don’t want to miss any rugby this year.”
While Thompson says the injury is not quite 100 per cent, it has not stopped him from performing.
“I catch it a couple of times,” he said. “Obviously, there is still a bit of an injury there, but I’ve got it strapped up, and I can still get out there and do my job, so it’s alright.”
Wigan had to dig deep to overcome Huddersfield, with Thompson acknowledging it was far from a perfect display, but that the Warriors got the job done.
“This time of the year, just getting the win is the main thing,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got to win ugly, you’re not going to be at your best every week.
“Coming off the back of a couple of tough games in Saints and Warrington, which take quite a bit out of you emotionally because you get up for them in front of a big crowd and big fixtures, so to come here against Huddersfield, a side that has been struggling a bit, it’d easy to drop your standards, so getting the win was the main thing and it’s pleasing that we did.”
Attention now turns to Friday night’s derby clash with St Helens at the Brick Community Stadium.
“It’s exciting,” Thompson added. “There is a lot to look forward to over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got some big games, Saints at home, Leigh away, so it’s going to be a big couple of weeks coming up.”