Deacon has begun training with Bradford again

Great Britain scrum-half Paul Deacon was back in training on Tuesday less than two months after receiving a life-threatening facial injury.

The 26-year-old Bradford Bulls star had to have part of his face virtually rebuilt after a tackle by Kiwi Nigel Vagana in the Tri-Nations Series.

Deacon's upper jaw and cheekbone were smashed and doctors feared for his life as blood vessels burst in his throat.

He is likely to make his comeback in a friendly later this month.

Everything is fine now - I have no pain whatsoever Paul Deacon

Deacon, who will have the titanium plates inserted either side of his nose for the rest of his life, will fly to Lanzarote next week for Bradford's training camp.

He may then feature in one of the club's two friendlies in the build-up to the Super League champions' World Club Challenge clash with Wests Tigers on 3 February.

"When I looked at my face after I had the operation, it was hard to think that I could be back in six weeks," he said.

"But, once all the bones got back in place, it was just a matter of letting them heal, which takes six weeks.

"Everything is fine now. I have no pain whatsoever.

"The only thing that is wrong at the minute is that my top gum is numb because of nerve damage from the operation but the doctor says that should come back in a few months."

Deacon, Super League's leading points-scorer in 2005, had a gentle re-introduction at training and admits the real test will come when he goes into full-contact work.

"I've thought about it," he admitted. "Maybe the first time I hit a tackle shield. But I'm sure that, once I've done it for the first time, I'll be fine.

"I don't see why it should affect my confidence.

"I've done my own training at the local gym - I started that about two-and-a-half weeks after my operation - and just kept myself ticking over.

"I'll get a good three weeks' training under my belt and then it's straight back into it. It's up to the coach but I would think I will probably play some part in one or both of the friendlies.

"I probably need that to make sure my face is OK and that it's not affected my confidence but I don't think it will have."