Cipriani could make amazing return for Wasps in Premiership next Wednesday

Danny Cipriani is set to make a dramatic return to competitive action barely four months after suffering a career-threatening fracture dislocation of his right ankle.

The 20-year-old fly half feared the worst when an innocuous looking tackle by Olly Barkley in Wasps' Guinness Premiership play-off semi-final win over Bath last May left his foot splayed at a sickening 90 degree angle.

But having undergone surgery, followed by intensive physiotherapy under the watchful eye of Wasps physio Prav Mathema, Cipriani is expected to feature in next Wednesday's home Guinness Premiership clash against, coincidentally, Bath.

'It will be good to be in front of the home crowd and hear my name called out,' he said.

'I am going to have to calm myself a bit as I will be very excited and ready to play.'

The news comes as a much needed boost for Wasps, who have lost their three opening games.

However, Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan is keen to temper expectations, insisting a decision will not be taken until Cipriani has come through a series of fullcontact sessions.

His return will also not have escaped the notice of England team manager Martin Johnson, who now faces the bizarre prospect of hoping for an injury to occur elsewhere in his squad ahead of November's autumn internationals.

Danny Cipriani picked up his horror injury in the Guinness Premiership semi-final at Adams Park in May

Under the terms of the elite player agreement, one of the 32 players already nominated by Johnson would have to suffer an injury for another player to be drafted in this year.

That could lead to the ludicrous situation of Cipriani sitting on the sidelines until Johnson is allowed to add him to the squad in January.