Wood comes back from serious injury to star for England again

Former Millais School and Collyer’s pupil Lucy Wood was training with Great Britain’s under-21 squad two years ago when she ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, which ended her season.

Following surgery and intensive rehabilitation, the 20-year-old, returned to competitive hockey in November 2013 to play for Holcombe, in the National Conference East League.

The personal trainer then fractured a bone in her hand in only her second week back to face another eight weeks on the sidelines.

However, Wood remained determined to return to playing hockey at the highest level and bounced back to help Holcombe win the league and then the play-offs, to secure a place in the Investec Premier League next season.

The forward re-joined the England under-21 squad earlier this year in March and netted a hat-trick on her international debut against France.

She was then invited to join the England Development Squad before being selected to play for England A in a three-match series against the Welsh senior side in June.

Her dramatic rise from her injury woes was then capped with a call-up to the 16-man England squad for the prestigious Commonwealth Games, which take place in Glasgow later this month.

Wood said: “I am so excited to have been selected for the Commonwealth Games and honoured to be representing Team England at such an important event.

“I am hoping to play my best hockey and help the team bring back a medal from Glasgow. I would like to thank the many people who have supported my involvement in sport over the past years, they have helped me to achieve a life-time ambition.”

Full story in this week’s paper.