A SECOND former Leigh Centurions player has undergone major back surgery after being forced into early retirement.

Record-breaking full-back Neil Turley has, this week, told of the agony he's gone through since quitting the game two years ago.

Ironically, another ex-Hilton Park star, former skipper Ian Knott is now handicapped by a back injury he suffered during Leigh's Super League campaign of 2005.

But unlike Knott, whose injury could lead to the former loose-forward being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, Turley is hoping that his surgery will eventually allow him to take part in physical activities again.

Turley, now aged 27, had an operation recently which involved inserting two artificial discs in his back. His own had worn away, leaving him struggling to play rugby league and which eventually forced his early retirement.

Despite suffering a serious complication during the operation, he's now well on the road to recovery.

In an interview with a trade paper this week, Turley says: "I just want to be able to get back doing some form of exercise again, because for the last two years I haven't been able to do any training at all.

"The surgery was successful but during the operation a vein was nicked, causing a blood clot.

"That's being cleared up with medication and will have no long term effects. The only thing is that it's knocked my recovery time back a bit."

The recovery time from the operation is estimated at three to six months and now he must undergo a considerable period of rehabilitation.

"It is difficult," he says. "I was always the type of player who, if told I would be out three weeks with a hamstring injury, would try to get back in two.

"But this is major surgery and when the experts tell you three to six months, you have to listen to them.

"The first day after the operation I tried to walk, but there was too much pain. At the moment I'm using a crutch but I won't have that for long.

"It will all be worth it if it sorts my back out properly."

Turley has been filling his time doing summarising work on local radio but his long-term aim is to get back into rugby league in some capacity.

"I have all my coaching badges and I'd love to get back involved at some stage. It would be great to be involved in a team environment again because that's the kind of thing you miss."