by Andrew Gidley

Ashley Shaw believes he is winning his battle to recover from a long-term shin-splints injury.

The 21-year-old left-arm seamer didn’t bowl a ball in first class cricket this summer but is targeting a possible trip to Australia, after what he described as a "horrible" time on the sidelines.

Shaw (pictured) has undergone two operations to cure the problem and said: "I am confident the injuries are behind me. I am pain-free and it is now all about getting myself fit.

"If all goes well over the next three months, I hope to start playing again early in the New Year."

Despite being unable to play, Shaw has spent plenty of time watching his team-mates in action, alongside head coach Jimmy Adams and says he has been great to him.

He said: "It has been horrible not playing. I get on well with Jimmy and have spent a lot of time quizzing him about everything to do with cricket."

Shaw, who signed on the eve of the 2010 season, had to wait until the following May for his first class bow, before bursting to prominence with a 5-118 return on his championship debut against Derbyshire at Canterbury but has had little opportunity to repeat that.

Physio Nimmo Reid is monitoring Shaw’s latest rehab, using a new state-of the art American developed Alter G treadmill, which was originally designed to provide effective exercise regimes for NASA astronauts.

The county have it on loan at the St Lawrence Physiotherapy Clinic for a trial period and Shaw said: "I have been doing four or five sessions a week and it has helped me start running, without putting full impact on the body.

"It has been good for me and I am feeling the benefit already."

Skipper Rob Key is also set to use it as he steps up his recovery from a hernia operation.

Do you think Shaw will make an impact on his return? Have your say below.