Bristol Rovers' Coles could be off to America to aid his recovery

Bristol Rovers defender Danny Coles could be off to America this summer to work with one of the world's leading rehabilitation specialists as he continues his recovery from a double knee operation.

The Pirates are currently investigating the possibility of sending the former Bristol City and Hull City player to the Killington Medical Clinic in Vermont for a spell with Bill Knowles.

Regarded as a leading authority on rehabilitation after knee problems, Knowles has previously worked with top sports stars including Michael Owen, Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Bristol rugby player Dan Ward-Smith.

Coles has managed only five appearances for the Pirates this term – his last one came in October – and his season has been wrecked by his cartilage injury, which needed a second operation after complications following initial surgery.

Coach Paul Trollope said: "We are making significant efforts to get him to the American clinic for 10 days or two weeks, which will be a huge aid to his rehabilitation.

"Whatever happens, we would like Danny back fully fit for the start of pre-season training. If we can get that, it would be like signing a new player with a transfer value.

"He has only started five games this season and that has been frustrating for us, and him, especially after he signed a new deal with us."

Coles is currently back in light training and has been stepping up his running programme, but physio Phil Kite believes a spell in the States would help him to regain peak condition for next season.

He said: "It's been tough for Danny. There were some problems after the original operation, which isn't uncommon with the injury he had.

"But he is through the worst of it now and, hopefully, with the work that will be done over the summer, he will be fit and raring to go for next season.

"If we had been involved in the play-offs, we would probably have been pushing to get him fit for them. As we're not, it means we can spend a bit of extra time to make sure he is absolutely spot on.

"Bill Knowles is one of the top men in the world in the rehabilitation field and has taken it to another level. His background is actually in skiiing and he has worked with a lot of skiiers in the past, as well as top American footballers and ice hockey players.

"We have fantastic facilities here like Lilleshall, but this guy is in another league and has far more specialist knowledge than me or most other people in this country. When I spoke to him on the phone about Danny's situation it was like sitting a medical exam!"