Quade Cooper aiming to return in peak condition from shoulder and hip surgery

QUADE Cooper will use an “oil change” to get himself into peak condition and hasn’t yet given up hope of playing a part in The Rugby Championship.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 17: Quade Cooper of the Reds leaves the field injured during the round 14 Super Rugby match between the Reds and the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium on May 17, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

INJURED Wallabies star Quade Cooper is determined to return from surgery in better shape than ever and hasn’t yet given up hope of playing some part in this year’s Rugby Championship.

Cooper will undergo shoulder and hip surgery this week after he left the field in the opening minutes of Queensland Reds’ sixth straight Super Rugby loss on Saturday.

Scans revealed the Reds No.10 suffered an AC joint injury in his left shoulder and while he is disappointed he won’t feature for an under-fire Queensland outfit again this season, he has managed to find a silver lining.

“I’m getting a bit of an oil change you know,” Cooper told Fox Sports News in Brisbane on Tuesday.

“I’m just looking forward to actually my body feeling right; 100 per cent. Getting my hip cleaned up a little bit and making use of this time off.

“It wasn’t necessary (urgent surgery) for the hip injury but we were looking for a window to do but now that we’ve got one through the shoulder we think it’s best to get them both out of the way.”

Cooper was likely to reprise a Wallabies partnership with in-form Brumbies fly half Matt Toomua after the duo enjoyed several strong games together in the midfield towards the end of last year.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will now have to look at alternate options for next month’s three-Test series against France with Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Christian Leali’ifano and Pat McCabe all capable of partnering Toomua.

But Cooper hasn’t completely ruled out the domestic Test season and is hopeful of playing some part in The Rugby Championship later this year.

“I think so, that’s (Rugby Championship) something that I’ve got to keep in mind but at the same time I’ve got to continue to work through it,” he said.

“It’s a process I’ve got to take week by week, and how I heel is still yet to be seen. And when I get out of here (hospital) I’ll just be doing all the right things to make sure I put myself in a good position to get back to playing rugby as soon as possible.

“But at the same time I’m sure the boys will be playing well and what I’m looking forward to is supporting and watching the team grow.”

McKenzie names his initial 30-man Wallabies squad on Thursday.

Originally published as Quade Cooper aiming to return in peak condition from shoulder and hip surgery