BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Phil Vickery used to be the most superstitious bloke born west of the Tamar - which is saying something - but for a good while now Cornwall's finest has declined to salute solitary magpies, pointedly walks under ladders and steadfastly refuses to touch wood when discussing his future.

"As far as injuries are concerned bad luck has haunted me, so I stopped that superstitious stuff a few years ago," Vickery admitted. "Let's be honest, it wasn't working so I just leave it to fate now. Whatever will be will be, and over a long career things tend to even themselves out."

The England World-Cup winner and proud Lion is poised to return from his third career-threatening injury - two back, one neck - in the past eight years. As long as nothing untoward happens at training this week, Vickery will play some part in Wasps' visit to Worcester on Saturday after five months on the sidelines.

In the spring sunshine at Wasps' Acton training ground on Tuesday Vickery, just turned 34, certainly looked the picture of health. The 'Raging Bull' shows every indication of being ready to roam the playing fields of England again.

"Some people reckon I'm mad but I had to get the problem sorted out anyway, whether I played rugby again or not, so I was always going to have the operation and do the rehab," Vickery said. "The neck feels really good now, there is much more movement than before the injury and no more chance of injury than before.

"The truth is I miss my rugby. Being a professional rugby player is my job, it's how I pay the bills and provide for my family, and I take great pride in that job. There is no way I would quit before I have to.

"I haven't got an awful lot of time for people who look back at the end of their careers and reel off a list of 'ifs' and 'maybes'. In my book the only question is 'Did you or didn't you?' I would never forgive myself if I looked back and realised I actually retired two or three years early. The important thing is, did I give it another go? And the answer will be yes. 

"The latest injury was serious enough but not that unusual in props. The problem had been building up and then, against Racing Metro in October, a disc suddenly went and pushed on to the spinal cord. I could feel a lot of tingling and numbness and it was time to get it sorted.

"The rehab is endless and it's not just the neck. You have to retrain your posture, strengthen your shoulders and work on your arms, which have lost power with the nerve damage. Some days you think you're standing still or even going backwards, but the trick is not to track your progress day by day but to measure it by where you were two or three weeks ago."

Game-time for Wasps, and in particular a start in the St George's Day game at Twickenham against Bath on April 24, when pounds 1 for every ticket sold will go to the Help for Heroes charity, is Vickery's present focus but do not write him off internationally.

"I never understand players who retire from international rugby before they retire from club rugby. If I'm properly match fit and playing at a decent level professionally, I will always be available for England.

"Playing for your country is the ultimate. Whether I ever get picked again is another matter, that depends on how others assess my form, but I'll always be up for it."