'Miracle man' Witsel back for Belgium after determined recovery

Brussels: Axel Witsel has been hailed as Belgium's "miracle man" after his sooner-than-expected return from a serious Achilles tendon injury, but he said his recovery came with doubt and sacrifice.

The midfielder tore his tendon in early January in Bundesliga action with Borussia Dortmund and, after surgery, was told it could take up to nine months before he played again. But a determined approach to rehabilitation allowed him to accelerate the healing, culminating in a second-half appearance against Denmark in the European Championship on Thursday - months ahead of schedule.