Cheltenham and Gloucester Cup hero Keith Parsons is at home recovering after undergoing an operation to rectify a knee injury.

The twenty eight year old who won the Man of the Match Award at the Lord's final on September 1st told me, "I went in for a small operation on my knee and expected to be in hospital for 3 to 5 days, but in the end I was in The Chesterfield Hospital for 2 weeks."

Local hero Keith, who was born and brought up in Taunton had the operation three weeks ago, and is currently restricted to getting about on crutches.

"I've been back to see the specialist, and he is happy about the way things are progressing. Already I can start to bend it," he told me, and went on "I go back to see him again in early December after which I will hopefully be able to start walking,swimming and cycling.

All being well I should be able to start running in January, and the specialist is 95% sure that things will have improved sufficiently for me to play at the start of next season."

Keith, who was carrying the injury for the last three months of the 2001 season concluded," I'm delighted that its all now been sorted out and I'm really looking forward to getting back and about again and obviously to playing in 2002."

© SOMERSET