Erik Edman has resumed light training after his long lay off with a knee injury.

Smiling again, left-back Erik Edman spoke to Latics World this week and told us that the original estimate of an October return is not far off the mark.

The Swedish international picked up a ruptured cruiate knee ligament injury at Edwood Park back in March, when an innocuous twist saw him stretchered off the field in agony.


PAIN POINT:  Erik suffers ligament damage

But after a small operation and months of rehabilitation work with the doctors and Head Physiotherapist Dave Galley, Edman is eagerly looking forward to joining in with full training in approximately 8 weeks time.

"It's nice to be back and out running," said the 29-year-old.

"I've started to do some outside work and some running as well as some small exercises with the ball and I hope to be able to join in with the boys - hopefully in around 8 weeks, mid October."



Despite the frustration of having to sit out games on the sidelines, he says he is still looking forward to seeing how the team fare against Scolari's Chelsea on Sunday at the JJB stadium. [BUY TICKETS] [TICKET INFORMATION]

"I am looking forward to seeing the boys play Chelsea this weekend," Edman continues.

"But of course everyone prefers to be out on the pitch and that is no different for me."


COMPETITION FOR PLACES: Figueroa has been a revelation in the left-back position.

When Erik arrived at the JJB Stadium in January, he solved an ongoing problem of the lack of a recognised left-back at the Club.But since his injury the emergence of Maynor Figueroa now means that there is strong competition for that place.

"In the Premier League, which is the best league in the world, without doubt, and for every place in every team you need to have the competition for every position, and we have that."