June Jinx Haunts Turnbull

Malcolm McCausland reports that Gareth Turnbull has received some welcome news in his attempt to be fit for next month's Commonwealth Games. The Loughborough miler had been diagnosed last week as having a stress fracture of the medial sesamoid bone that connects his big toe to the metatarsal bone. It was initially thought that Turnbull would have been out of action between six and eight weeks. However, following a visit to top sports injury specialist Dr Simon Costain he has been given the go ahead to recommence training next week. The Harley Street specialist has assured the John Morrin - trained athlete that he will design a support for the injury, which will enable to start running again without doing any further injury to the fracture.

Turnbull will continue aqua-jogging for the next few days while his support is manufactured but Dr Costain is confident that the St. Malachy's Old Boys runner will be able to resume full training next week.

Turnbull commented, "The aqua-jogging in the pool has been going very well and I don't think I've lost that much over the last week or so. However, the piece of support apparatus will hopefully speed up my recovery by a couple of weeks."

Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Turnbull will see competitive action this month meaning the June jinx on the Balmoral man continues. Turnbull has not raced in the month for each of the past three seasons due to illness and injury.