DANNY Talbot has virtually written off the 2018 season after being forced to undergo a second operation in less than six months, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The Trowbridge international sprinter had already dropped out of the England team for the Commonwealth Games last month after missing most of the winter due to his first operation on a persistent ankle problem last autumn.

That still left open the chance of being fit again this summer but Talbot’s rehab didn’t go well and with his ankle still giving him problems he and coach Benke Blomkwist decided a second operation was needed.

That went much better but even the optimistic Talbot can’t see himself getting fit again to compete this summer.

“I had the second a few weeks ago because the first one had never calmed down and there was inflamed tissue around the bone where it should have hardened up,” said Talbot.

“The original rehab just didn’t go as well as it should so we decided to have the problem cut out. Since the op I have been spending time at the Bisham Abbey Intensive Rehabilitation Centre which is funded by the British Olympic Association.

“It has been awesome here and I feel I have made so much progress. I have been getting world class treatment every day from 8.30am until 4.30pm and having arrived on crutches I will be walking out under my own steam at the end of this week when I go back home.”

The team at Bisham Abbey work not just on the physical side of the injury but also on the mental recovery so Talbot is feeling upbeat about the future even if it means missing a whole year of competition.

“These last few months have been tough but coming off the second op I felt better straight away,” added Talbot.

“It was a different surgeon and the rehab has been totally different. I have not put any timetable on returning to action because first I have to be able to start jogging again before even thinking about sprinting sessions.

“To be honest if there was ever a year to be forced to sit it out then it was 2018 as apart from the Commonwealth Games there are no major global championships.

“I am not missing out on anything so my focus is on first getting fit again and then getting ready for the 2019 World Championships in Doha and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“That was always the long-term plan when I made my debut in the London Olympics and that hasn’t changed.”