Hockey: Wilson can't wait to pitch in

Nick Wilson has 124 caps and scored 53 times for the Black Sticks. Picture / Getty Images

Black Sticks star can see light at end of tunnel after long road back from injury

Nick Wilson can rattle the details off in a blink: "Melbourne, December 2012, the Champions Trophy, against England, we won 3-2 in extra-time. I scored two goals."

The reason there was no pause for breath is understandable. It was the last time one of the country's most gifted hockey players appeared for the national team before injury struck him down.

Now Wilson is on the cusp of returning to the Black Sticks after an 18-month layoff for deep bruising on a bone in his right knee, which turned into cartilage issues. It required surgery seven months ago and a painful, frustrating break.

Now he's back in training and believes he's around 80-85 per cent, the best he's felt in all the months of trying to get back on the park.

"The last two months have been phenomenal," Wilson, 24, and with 124 caps behind him, said.

"The 16 months before that it was just doom and gloom. I was doing six days a week in the gym, eating all the right things, gave up drinking, did everything possible to get better and wasn't seeing any results.

"I have a genuine passion for the sport so to have it taken away was a huge shock to the system and mentally quite tough."

Now the striker, who has scored 53 times for New Zealand, can see an end to the darkness.

New Zealand began a four-match series against Japan in Wellington last night. They face Canada in a four-game series in Nelson and Christchurch early next month. Wilson hopes to be part of that.

He's also looking forward to the Indian hockey league in which six New Zealand players will feature.

Andy Hayward and Shea McAleese are the newcomers, picked up in the auction a few days ago. They join four - Ryan Archibald, Wilson, national skipper Simon Child and Steve Edwards who are already contracted to franchises.

Wilson's Ranchi Rays are a new operation, replacing the now defunct Ranchi Rhinos.

Their new owner is Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni,one of the country's most popular figures.

"If he comes to our games we'll probably get big crowds," Wilson said.

Dhoni's teammate Suresh Raina is co-owner of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

Belgium's Tom Boon was top pick at the auction, pulling in a whopping US$103,000 ($130,000) bid, off a base price of US$20,000, from the Mumbai franchise.