RICARDO Gardner's amazing powers of recovery have made him the miracle man.

In February last year his playing career came to a halt when he damaged cruciate and medial knee ligaments in Wanderers' game at Barnsley.

It's the injury that players fear, knowing that it can keep them sidelined for up to a year.

But the club broke with tradition and, armed with evidence from the internet, decided to take the unconventional and expensive course of action, which promised the talented young player not only the best chance of making a full recovery but also the prospect of shaving valuable weeks off the normal recovery time.

No expense was spared and Gardner flew to America for treatment at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado where the work of Dr Richard Steadman is acknowledged to be the world's best in the treatment of such injuries.

Gardner was examined and operated on within hours of his arrival and was given an intensive rehabilitation programme designed to fast track him back into competitive football.

Yet, for all the expertise of the surgeon and the confidence of the rehab routine, it still came down to the player himself.

And, if anyone doubted Gardner's determination to beat the odds, they were quickly put right.

Following the advice of his doctors and under the supervision of the Wanderers' staff, the Jamaican international worked hard in the treatment to rebuild his damaged knee.

By July he was in Indianapolis, where he joined the rest of the Wanderers squad on their pre-season tour and by that time he was just starting to kick a ball again.

When the new campaign kicked off in August, Gardner was still on the sidelines but determined to be back in action as soon as possible.

A series of medical checks and tests revealed that the injury had healed sufficiently for Gardner to play again in September - just seven months after being injured.

By October 17 he was back in the first team squad and on the bench for the home game with Nottingham Forest. And when he came on his appearance almost brought the house down.

The Jamaican international has long been a favourite with the Reebok fans but there was almost a hushed silence as he went into his first challenge. But he never flinched and from that point his career was back on track.

Another substitute appearance against Stockport followed before playing his first full game when Wanderers went to Watford.

And the comeback was complete on November 11 when Gardner got back on the scoresheet with a 28th minute goal in a 2-0 win - ironically against Barnsley, the side he was playing against nine months earlier when the injury occured.

Since then he's gone from strength to strength. Not only has he re-established himself in the Wanderers squad making 34 appeances and scoring three goals, he has also regained his place in the Jamaican international side.

Only one ambition remains and hopefully he can realise that in the next couple of weeks.

Gardner has never played in the Premiership and although he missed out when Wanderers narrowly failed to achieve automatic promotion, he's determined to get there via the play offs.

And when the determined Gardner sets his sights on something - then miracles do sometimes happen.