Carlos Salcedo looks set to return from an ankle injury much sooner than expected for Eintracht Frankfurt. - © © imago / Hartenfelser
Carlos Salcedo looks set to return from an ankle injury much sooner than expected for Eintracht Frankfurt. - © © imago / Hartenfelser

Iron Man Carlos Salcedo set for ANOTHER earlier-than-expected return from injury for Eintracht Frankfurt

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A tear to the anterior syndesmosis ligament in your ankle sounds like a complex injury to recover from, right? Perhaps, but apparently not so much for Eintracht Frankfurt and Mexico defender Carlos Salcedo, who is once again set to make his comeback way ahead of schedule.

The 25-year-old was replaced in the 11th minute of Frankfurt's 2-1 defeat at home to Werder Bremen on Matchday 2 after a hefty tackle from Davy Klaassen, and underwent corrective surgery a few days later on 4 September.

- © imago / Hartenfelser

Injuries of this kind typically take anywhere between four and five months to recover from, but the signs are that Salcedo - who has been documenting his rehabilitation process on social media - will be back in record time.

"I was told it would take 12 weeks," Salcedo told MARCA shortly after going under the knife. "But I was very disciplined the last two times I was injured and I'll do so again to return early this time. We've got some great games in the Europa League and in the Bundesliga. I'm told I can comeback around 27 November but I think I can shave a couple of weeks off that."

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To that end, after an initial period of immobilising his ankle in a brace, Salcedo underwent a carefully planned rehabilitation programme under the guidance of his trusted physiotherapist and compatriot Erick Punta. His routine involved hours of exercises on a daily basis, including using anti-gravity treadmills, doing lateral crab walks and other low-impact strengthening exercises in water. Salcedo stayed in Frankfurt with his family for the most part, but also went on warm-weather training in Mykonos and Mexico.

If all goes to plan, therefore, that would mean the Mexico international could be back in the squad to face Schalke on Matchday 11 in mid-November.

It would not be the first time that Salcedo has defied expectations to return earlier than anticipated. After fracturing his collarbone in March, he was in the starting line-up again just 33 days later to help the Eagles to a 3-0 win at home to Hamburg.

- © imago / Agencia EFE

"Despite suffering a shoulder injury, he returned to fitness quicker than anticipated because he worked intensively on his recovery process," said sporting director Bruno Hübner at the time. "That shows his professional attitude. He's an important pillar of our defence."

Then-Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac agreed: "His recovery speed was incredible. No wonder they call him 'El Titan'." And he appears to be living up to that nickname once again.

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