BEIJING, Dec. 8 -- Star hurdler Liu Xiang is expected to be back on track in six months after last week's surgery on his foot was declared a "success." "We felt he did very well through the surgery," Thomas Clanton, the doctor who performed the procedure at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, said on Saturday. "It was exactly what we had anticipated finding. His prognosis for running in the future is quite good."

Liu, 25, left the hospital yesterday morning Beijing time in a wheelchair, looking relaxed and making faces at people outside the hospital. He jested that his only feeling during the operation was being "hungry".

He needs six months for rehabilitation and the process "is as important as the surgery", Liu's coach Sun Haiping said.

"The surgery is the first step and he still needs a careful recovery plan," he said.

Liu will go back to the hospital for further consultation on Wednesday and a rehabilitation plan will be worked out after that.

"Liu has been a professional sportsman for a long time, so his physical condition is very good, which will make his rehabilitation faster than for normal people," Sun said.

"Liu will have a good rest and then walk with crutches. After the Spring Festival (Jan 26), he may go jogging."

China's star hurdler Liu Xiang arrives at Los Angeles International Airport in the United States to transfer flight to Houston on Dec. 3, 2008.

【体坛英语资讯：Hurdler Liu expected to be back on track in six months】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Liu, Murofushi spearhead Asian hopes

★ 体坛英语资讯：Drastic changes made in soccer team

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Hewitt love strikes back over bikini shots

★ 体坛英语资讯：Chinese football princes to kick off career in England

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Britney Spears not to be charged for hit-run accident

★ 体坛英语资讯：Yao, Yi shine in first matchup

★ 体坛英语资讯：Liu advances, shock exit for Robles

★ 体坛英语资讯：Big net cast for Chinese tennis champs

★ 体坛英语资讯：Wang Nan still has something to prove

★ 体坛英语资讯：Hosts hopes up in the air at World Cup