GERWYN PRICE is on the comeback trail as he continues his recovery from injury.
The Welsh ace suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon whilst running in mid-June, but played through the pain barrier to compete in the PDC World Series in Las Vegas and Shanghai as well as the BetVictor World Matchplay last month.
Following his first round exit in Blackpool, Price underwent surgery on the freak injury and is currently wearing a supportive boot as part of the healing process - but insists he will not be missing any events.
If I have to play in the boot then I'll have to play in the boot
"My recovery isn't going too bad but I've been on the settee for the past few weeks which has been a bit frustrating," said Price, who reached the quarter-finals of the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg despite his injury.
"There were some complications to my surgery because the tendon had split further apart but the operation was done well and the surgeon is optimistic that it's going to heal pretty well, fingers crossed.
"I've just got to take it easy now in a supportive boot for the next two or three weeks but I'm not going to miss any tournaments - if I have to play in the boot then I'll have to play in the boot.
"Hopefully by the end of September I will be able to play with a trainer on with a couple of wedges in the back of it, so I won't have to play in the boot at the World Grand Prix."
?beast of a scar -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:- pic.twitter.com/iyIwUTo9Jz
— Gerwyn Price (@Gezzyprice) August 14, 2018
The 33-year-old made his Premier League debut at the start of the year, having featured in the finals of the UK Open and World Cup of Darts in an impressive 2017.
Following his spell off the oche, Price is determined to get back to his best before the end of the year but is fully aware that the recovery process could be a lengthy one.
"I have missed playing," Price admitted. "It will be nice to get back on stage and see how my darts are going.
"I played rugby from the age of six and I never really had any major injuries!
"It's been frustrating having to sit in the house all the time, I like to be an active person in life as well as darts.
"During the Premier League there were times when I felt like I needed a bit of time off but then when you have a week off you don't know what to do with yourself.
"Once I'm out of the boot I will be able to practice a lot more but for the last three weeks I've just been laid on the settee resting up.
"I'm going to go to Hildesheim next weekend [for the German Darts Championship] and I haven't got a clue how I'm going to play but I will turn up and put my full effort in and hopefully play alright."
As well as his quarter-final appearance in Hamburg, the Markham man also reached the last 16 of the Danish Darts Open and the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Darts Masters during his time playing with the injury before crashing out of the World Matchplay in round one.
Price admits the injury affected his game and is now looking forward to practicing and playing pain-free as he hopes to end the year in impressive fashion.
"When I first picked up the injury I said 'you don't throw with your foot' but when you're playing you need to be mentally confident," conceded Price.
"When I go into a game without much practice then I'm not going into it where I want to be in my head.
"I will hopefully be able to put a bit more practice in ready for the World Grand Prix and by the time that tournament comes round my aim is to be playing in a trainer and playing a bit better.
"As long as I'm fit and ready by the time the big TV events come round later in the year I will be happy and after that I can get ready for the World Championship, where I will hope for another good run."
Watch Gerwyn's return to action at the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim from August 30-September 2 which will be broadcast throughout the weekend for PDCTV-HD Subscribers, and through a series of bookmakers' websites worldwide. For tickets, visit www.pdc-europe.tv.
The Unibet World Grand Prix will be held from September 30-October 6 at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. For ticket information CLICK HERE.