Perri Shakes-Drayton doubtful for Commonwealth Games

Injured British 400m hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton is unsure whether she will compete at the 2014 European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The 24-year-old tore her posterior cruciate ligament and cartilage at the World Championships in August.

"I would love to be part of the Commonwealths and Europeans, but if it isn't going to happen I'm going to have to accept it," she told BBC Sport.

"Now I'm just trying to learn how to walk and get my body stronger."

Shakes-Drayton, a five-times British champion, sustained the injury during the final in Moscow, in which she finished seventh.

She had surgery a week after the championships and admits she has a "long road" ahead of her to return to the form that made her one of the favourites for gold in Moscow.

The situation is new to the Londoner, who has only previously had "small niggles" compared to this "very big injury".

She said: "You do have days when you doubt whether you'll be back but some athletes have done it in the past. I will be back, and I just have to keep saying that to myself.

"I've come a long way because I was in a brace. And now you still see me hobbling along, but it's nice getting my independence back as I've got rid of the crutches.

"When I start running, then we can see whether it's going to take a season [to recover]."

Shakes-Drayton enjoyed one of the most successful seasons of her career this year, winning the European indoor 400m title and clocking two personal bests in qualifying for the final at the World Championships.

But she described recovering from surgery as "tough mentally" and with no date set for a possible return, her participation in Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in July, and the European Championships in Zurich a month later, is in doubt.

"It is very difficult but I have to remain really positive and I think I've got the best team behind me and I'm being taken care of," she said.

"I'm missing out on the indoor season and we don't know if I'm going to be ready for the outdoor season.

"I don't wish it on anybody and all the athletes in the past who have had injuries and come back, I have big respect for them."