NEWPORT defender Byron Anthony has ditched his crutches as he makes yet another positive step on the long road to recovery, writes Michael Pearlman.

The former Cardiff City defender was arguably County’s best player in 2013 until he suffered the horrific injury during Newport’s shock 3-1 Capital Cup win at Brighton.

The double-fracture was initially thought to be a season-ender, but manager Justin Edinburgh has recently targeted January or February for Anthony’s return.

And now able to walk unaided and with a follow-up x-ray to come at the end of the month, Anthony is feeling extremely positive.

He’s now regularly attending County training sessions as well as working his own rehabilitation plan.

“To be honest, I was only on the crutches for about ten days and I’m on my feet with my full weight on my broken leg and doing everything I’ve been told to do, I am rocking and rolling,” he said.

“I’m coming to the end of what they call the ‘acute stage’ with the bone healing and now I’m actually getting ready to have a little break with the Mrs for a while before the X-ray.

“I can’t be aggressive with the rehab at the moment, but hopefully after the X-ray the consultant will give me permission to step things up.”

Anthony also revealed Brighton defender Inigo Calderon, the man whose tackle broke his leg, has stayed in touch beyond just travelling with Anthony to hospital.

“I’ve had quite a few texts from Inigo, I think on the night he was more distraught than I was and he’s stayed in touch,” he explained.

“It’s good of him, but I’ve had no-ill feelings since it happened, it was just a 50/50 tackle, one of those things.”