AFTER an injury-free 2014, badminton prospect Toby Penty insists he is ready to blow the cobwebs away this year.

The 22-year-old was forced to spend six months on the sidelines after tearing knee ligaments at the 2013 World Championships.

However, after a slow start to his comeback, Penty ended 2014 by reaching the final of the Welsh International before repeating the feat last month in Estonia.

He lost on both occasions – to Scotland’s Kieran Merrilees and Estonia’s Anton Kaisti respectively – but it was good to be back in the showpiece events.

He has a busy-looking calendar ahead of him, beginning with the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham next month.

“Last year was all about rebuilding and getting my ranking back,” he said.

“It's nothing that anyone wants to go through but it makes you stronger. I get the odd bit of pain now and then, but it's nothing I can't handle and we can't manage.

“2014 in general was injury free so that was positive and I feel like I'm almost back in the top 100, which for any player is something you can tick off.

“I've had a good start to 2015 already and got to one final.”

All focus now is on the Yonex All England, from March 3-8. It is the first Superseries Premier event of 2015 and features all the world’s best players.

And after losing to Sam Parsons for the second year running at last month’s English National Championships Penty is keen to bounce back in style against the great and the good in Birmingham.

Tickets for the YONEX All England 2015 at the stunning new Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham are available at allenglandbadminton.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 444 9994.