Tom Taylor is plotting his return to full fitness with his sights firmly set on the first fixture of the 2017 Specsavers County Championship, starting in April.
The right-arm paceman has been sidelined since June with a back stress fracture injury which ruled him out of the second half of last season.
The 21-year-old, who has taken 47 wickets in 18 first-class matches for the Club, is continuing his rehabilitation in tandem with first-team pre-season training.
Taylor said: “I want to get back to bowling by the time we get outside again training at The 3aaa County Ground and be available for selection for the first game of the season against Northants.
“In the middle of last season scans revealed a double stress fracture on the left side of my spine.
“Depending on the impact I was putting at the crease and the percentage at which I bowled, I would suffer a sharp pain every time I bowled. When I tried to bowl at 100% my back would be a wreck.
“I managed to get back in the gym after eight weeks after the diagnosis and started bowling again after the full month scan came up clear.
“I am currently doing the same preparation that the other bowlers are doing – apart from bowling at 100%.
? @TomTaylor43 took part in some bowling drills with @apalladino28 this morning as part of his rehabilitation programme.#P2bD pic.twitter.com/wi7c9A5liS
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) November 30, 2016
“I am doing a lot of action re-modelling drills, strengthening my back and putting a bit more pressure on my back, steadily increasing the loads.
“I have had to tweak a few things with my action to ensure I have a more economical action to produce better balls. I am straightening up my line as well so hopefully that will take the stress off my back.
He added: “It’s very important to be fully fit when running into bowl. A lot of bowlers have niggles throughout the season, so fingers crossed I can stay fit next season.”
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