FROM THE SOUTHLAND TIMES:
New Zealand track coach Tim Carswell is keeping a close watch on Tom Scully's recovery from a racing accident in Ireland last week.
Scully detailed the crash in an email to Cycling Southland this week, describing how he had crashed into a power pole at about 60kmh during a sprint for the finish line.
He has undergone surgery and will spend two weeks recovering in Ireland before coming home but has written off his chances of being fit in time to ride for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in October.
Carswell has been in regular contact with medical staff treating Scully and wants to wait until the final results of surgery are known before dismissing the impressive young rider's chances of getting to Delhi.
"Everything is a little unknown at the moment. This is one of the reasons why we haven't said anything about it yet. We don't know what the full situation is."
Scully said he had torn ligaments and had "destroyed" lateral ligaments and the hamstring attachment point on his right knee.
Carswell said cyclists were more used to breaking wrists and collarbones during riding accidents and Scully's injuries were more common in a contact sport such as rugby.
That was one of the reasons he was unsure just what they would mean for Scully's immediate future, he said.
"Obviously I'm following it bloody closely because he is a key rider for us for the future and we want to make sure that we do everything possible that we can to make sure that he can come out of this and get back to where he was and further. We want to see him developed into one of our key riders for the future."