‘Robbie Fowler aims to end his injury hell by playing in the Manchester derby next month.
‘Fowler, 30, said: "Through the summer we all had fitness programmes to follow but I kept suffering from cramps in my legs when I was doing my training. I came back a little bit early and got tested out but it was a bit of a puzzle. In the end I had to go for a scan. It turns out that I had a tear in one of the discs in my back and I needed injections.
"Part of the problem might have been simple wear and tear but some mornings it was so painful it took an age getting out of bed. Anyone who has suffered from a bad back knows how much agony it can cause. Since I have had the injections I have upped the training and feel much better. The idea is to pick the work up another level this week with an eye to being back a couple of weeks after that. The derby match might be one to aim for at Old Trafford."