Trefelin attacker Dan John has undergone surgery after suffering a serious hamstring injury, with the summer signing now documenting his road to recovery on a new TikTok channel.
The 20-year-old, who joined Trefelin from Ammanford ahead of the current campaign, has been sidelined since picking up the injury against Briton Ferry Llansawel on September 18.
John has already missed Trefelin’s last five matches and faces a lengthy rehabilitation process after revealing the extent of the damage to his hamstring.
The forward has launched a TikTok page called Back 2 Pitch, where he plans to share his recovery journey, from the early stages of rehabilitation through to his hopes of returning to competitive football.
Dan John reveals severity of hamstring injury after surgery
Explaining the injury in a video shared on his new channel, John revealed that he had suffered a grade 4C hamstring rupture, an injury serious enough to require surgical repair.
He said: “I’ve got a grade 4C rupture in my hamstring which basically means that it needed repairing.
“What I’m going to do is document my journey and rehab into getting back to walking, and hopefully getting back onto the pitch and everything in between.”
In a subsequent video, John shared an update from London on the day of his operation, confirming that the procedure had gone well.
“I’ve just had surgery. Surgery went well,” he said.
The videos will give supporters an insight into the challenges of recovering from a significant injury, as the young forward begins the process of working towards a return to full fitness.
What is a grade 4C hamstring rupture and how long could John be out?
A grade four muscle injury represents a complete tear of the affected muscle or tendon, making it considerably more serious than the strains commonly suffered by footballers.
Guidance published by Sheridan Sports Medicine suggests that recovery from a grade 4C rupture can take 12 to 24 weeks or longer before a return to competitive football may be possible.
However, recovery times vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury, the treatment required and the individual’s progress through rehabilitation.
The timeframe is a general indication and should not be taken as a confirmed prognosis for John. His recovery will depend on how he responds to surgery and the rehabilitation programme recommended by his medical team.
For John, the immediate priority will be recovering from surgery and gradually rebuilding his strength and mobility before progressing towards football-specific training.
His Back 2 Pitch channel is intended to document those stages, although no confirmed return date has been announced.
Trefelin’s results since Dan John was sidelined
John’s absence has come during a challenging spell for Trefelin in the Cymru Premier, although the club did enjoy an impressive result in their first top-flight match without him.
Trefelin defeated his former club Cardiff Met 3-1, providing a positive start to life without the injured attacker.
However, subsequent league fixtures brought defeats against The New Saints, Airbus and Flint Town United.
There was also a brighter moment in the Welsh Cup, with Trefelin recording a convincing 4-1 victory over Llantwit Major.
The results underline the mixed fortunes the club have experienced during John’s spell on the sidelines, with his eventual return potentially offering another attacking option as the season progresses.
Summer signing had impressive record at Ammanford
John arrived at Trefelin after an outstanding campaign with Ammanford, where his performances earned him the Cymru South Young Player of the Season award.
He finished last season with 18 goals and eight assists in 28 appearances, establishing himself as one of the division’s standout young attacking talents.
The forward had made nine appearances for Trefelin before his injury, having joined the club during the summer.
His early-season involvement offered an opportunity to build on the form he had shown at Ammanford, but the serious hamstring rupture has temporarily halted that progress.
For now, John will focus on his rehabilitation and keep supporters informed through Back 2 Pitch, with the hope of returning to the pitch once he has recovered sufficiently from surgery.
