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Heitinga surgery by Dr Richard Steadman succesful

27 October: Ajax defender Johnny Heitinga has undergone left knee surgery in the Steadman-Hwakins Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Surgeon was Dr Richard Steadman, a man of tremendous reputation when it comes to serious cartilage injuries. He succesfully helped Manchester United stars Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Heitinga's operation was also deemed succesful.

Heitinga sustained his knee injury during Ajax' Eredivisie home game against NAC (2-2) on 29 September. Last season, he missed the entire second season's half due to a similar injury of his other knee, the right. The NAC game was Heitinga's comeback in Ajax-1.

After surgical failures were made last year, Heitinga and Ajax wanted the best man this time around - and went for Dr Steadman. Heitinga flew to the United States on 23 October, accompanied by his mother, stepfather and Ajax team doctor, Dr Edwin Goedhart. The operation took place on the 25th. "I was pretty nervous", Heitinga said, calling Amsterdam from Colorado. "But everything seems to have gone well."

The 18 year-old defender had to stay in hospital for one more night after the surgery. Heitinga: "The after-effect was not so nice. I felt wretched, but I'm fine now. Right now, I'm in one of those machines, which helps you getting the movement back. I'm also having physiotherapy twice a day. That's kind of tough, but I sleep a lot. And I do a little bit of surfing on the internet, but after a while you've seen all those sites."

Ajax.nl does not give an estimation of the time Heitinga will require to recover completely. However, the defender is optimistic: "With a lot of rest and ice on the knee, everything should be fine. I'll be okay. But if you'll excuse me: it's noon here. Time for a siesta."

John Heitinga will stay in his hotel, adjacent to the hospital of Vail, until 08 November. On that day, he will fly back to The Netherlands to continue his recovery at Ajax. (MP)

(Source: Ajax.nl)