Dominic Johns has targeted a 2025 preseason return after “life-changing” surgery in Australia to repair the tibia and fibula bones he snapped playing for Hong Kong Football Club in May.
Johns, a forward, injured his right leg following a challenge from North District midfielder Ho Chun-ho. An initial operation was unsuccessful, and a positive second procedure was wasted when Johns suffered an infection that delayed a planned third surgery, and left him with a “crooked leg”.
However, after a lengthy operation in Sydney on November 12, six months to the day after he was hurt, Johns said he was finally “out the other side” of his ordeal.
The crutches that had become constant companions have been discarded, while Johns, who has remained in Sydney with his family until New Year’s Eve, promised not to pause on Christmas Day as he “keeps pushing” towards a full recovery.
“We are going to my auntie’s farm for Christmas Day, but I will squeeze in a training session in the morning before everyone is up,” Johns said.
“If I keep working hard to build the muscles and ligaments back to a good level, I should be running in February, then, hopefully, back playing and ready to go for preseason. The timeline seems pretty smooth.”
