OLYMPIC champion Steven Burke could be in contention for a place at next month’s Track World Championships after making a swift recovery from a broken collarbone.

The 26-year-old from Colne required surgery after fracturing his collarbone at a training camp in Majorca earlier this month.

However, Burke, a team pursuit gold medallist at London 2012, has made superb progress and on Monday travelled to the Balearic Island with the endurance squad for a key preparation camp for the Track World Championships, which take place from February 18 to 22 in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, near Paris.

And Burke, who waited a further two days to undergo surgery with his preferred doctor, says the decision has already paid dividends, with a two-inch scar the only remaining visible damage.

“Things are going better than I thought they would,” Burke said.

“The collarbone is now straight and I’ve hardly any pain in that area so it’s back in training on the turbo.

“I’m not allowed on the road yet because it may weaken, so I’m doing plenty of efforts, double days on the turbo and gym sessions as well.

“By the time I get back (from Majorca) at the start of February I’ll be back on the track so it looks like I won’t miss out on any track training in preparation for the world championships so I’m very pleased about that.

“I’ve just got to rely on turbo training now to get me in the best shape possible and everyone is quite confident I can do that.

“I’ve been going quite well since the camp in Tenerife before Christmas; I felt like I had really moved on and I’ve done plenty of endurance work leading up to the crash so I don’t think I’ve missed out on too much fitness.

“Essentially I’ve missed five days off the bike, it’s a little bit of catch up that can’t be helped.

“I’m doing everything I can now to get myself in the best shape possible for February 18.”

Burke is now working hard on his fitness to ensure that he returns in the best shape possible.

He added: “I’m really looking after my diet, my sleep, everything. I think I’m doing that really well so far and long may that continue.

“The support staff have been fantastic – doctor Richard Freeman and nutritionist Nigel Mitchell – they’ve been fully supporting me.”

The team pursuit qualifying takes place on the opening day of the World Championships with the semi-finals and finals on day two.

British Cycling could announce the British team as soon as this week.