HAVING watched from the sidelines for last month’s World Taekwondo Championships, Lutalo Muhammad admits he is itching to get back to action at this month’s inaugural European Games in Baku.

The Olympic bronze medallist had been savouring a first-ever World Championships medal in Russia last month before injury struck.

The 23-year-old damaged knee cartilage in one of his last training sessions before leaving Britain, with the problem requiring minor surgery.

In his absence, Bianca Walkden led the way with gold, while Damon Sansum took silver and Rachelle Booth bronze.

Now, after undergoing rehab, Muhammad joins up with a seven-strong taekwondo contingent in the Team GB squad heading to Azerbaijan for the inaugural European Games from June 12-28.

Muhammad will open his welterweight bid on Thursday, June 18, and the fit-again fighter is determined to soak up the whole experience.

“I’m massively looking forward to Baku,” he said. “It’s the first of its kind, a European Games. I can’t wait to get to the village. I’m having trouble containing my excitement.

“Europe has a lot of strong nations in taekwondo, so winning it won’t be easy.”

Muhammad will fight in the -80kg category, a -3kg increase on what he would have fought at in Russia had injury not intervened.

“I’ve fought virtually all the guys in the category already this year,” he said, “so I think it will just be who is the best on the day and, hopefully, it will be me.”

The World Taekwondo Grand Prix – featuring the very best Olympic and World champions from across the globe – is coming to Manchester on October 16-18. Experience the excitement, drama and electrifying atmosphere of this explosive Olympic sport, with tickets now on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wtgp