Charlie Oatway can come back from his injury nightmare stronger than ever.

That is the verdict of physio Malcolm Stuart after the Albion skipper enjoyed some overdue positive news in his recovery from a broken ankle.

Oatway has been told he is on course for a full recovery after needing additional surgery to the injury suffered on Boxing Day.

Stuart, who is overseeing treatment, said: "If anyone was to have this sort of problem, Charlie is the sort who can deal with it.

"Mentally he has dealt with it very well.

"Physically if the operation has the effect we hope it has he will be back better than ever.

"When Charlie had the operation there was quite a lot of damage in there.

"The surgeon was really pleased with the work he has done and we see no reason why Charlie cannot resume with a better ankle than he had previously.

"There are two areas of old damage and one fresh area of damage.

"He had progressed so far and couldn't work through it.

"We've cleaned it out and hopefully this will be the end of his problems.

"He will now have two months' non-weightbearing work to allow the operation to take full effect.

"After that it will be partial weightbearing and then back to full weightbearing training and hopefully a return to playing around about December."