Wing Ashton Hewitt is looking to ramp up his rehabilitation process as he continues to recover from his injury sustained in the 2020/2021 campaign.
The speedster was enjoying an impressive season before he tore his ACL while scoring a try against Northampton Saints in the European Challenge Cup.
The winger is four months post operation and is looking to step up his recovery as he eyes a return to the side in the New Year.
Hewitt admits the thought of playing in front of the fans at Rodney Parade on his return has helped keep him going and is excited at the prospect of running out to a fully packed home stadium once again.
“It’s going well. I am about four months post op now, so I am in a bit of a better place than I was and I am able to do more things now and get some good exercises done,” said the 26-year-old.
“I’ve started doing some leg weights, which is nice and I'm able to ramp that up, so it's been going good. It’s just about strength now.
"It’s all healed nicely and when I had my catch up with the surgeon three months post op he was all happy so it’s just about pushing it now and trying to get it as equal as possible to my other leg. Get it strong so I can prep myself to get running.”
On his return the Newport-born Hewitt continued: “I think it’s sort of take it as it comes, obviously there is sort of a rough guideline in terms of the process of coming back from the injury I had.
“But I think return to training might be end of November, December time and then hopefully back on the pitch in January so that is what’s keeping me going at the moment, driving towards that.
“Supporters can definitely expect to see me this season and I can’t wait - the last time I played the stadiums were empty.
“I think that is one thing everyone is looking forward to, to be honest. Having fans back when coming off the back of an injury will hopefully make that first game a lot better. I'm definitely looking forward to making my return in front of the fans at Rodney Parade.”
Hewitt admits it has been one of the most difficult periods in his career with the injury taking a toll mentally.
But Hewitt, who has scored 33 tries in 103 appearances for the region, praises his team-mates and coaches for keeping his spirits up during a difficult time.
He said: “It has been tough mentally because you get injured and when I had the op it was in the off-season, so you come back then and you are doing the same stuff every day and seeing the boys running about - although some of it I am not too envious off, I’ll be honest.
“But when they are throwing the ball about you want to be out there. You are stuck in the gym and it can get a bit tough, a bit repetitive your days, so it’s not easy at all, but hopefully I’m on the right path.
“The boys and the coaches have been really good. I have stayed chatting to the coaches, the boys in the gym been great, although getting in the way of my rehab, but I won’t complain too much” he smiled.
“We have our skills as a group between the injured players to do what we can, and I do get to get the ball in my hand a little bit at least.
“But it’s been good, the support has been great everyone cares about how I’m doing and how I’m getting on so couldn’t ask for much more really.”
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Supporters can definitely expect to see me this season and I can’t wait - the last time I played the stadiums were empty...
