DAVID Howell says he is feeling no adverse affects from the foot injury that kept him out of action for more than three months – although a chest infection may put a check on his European Tour comeback.

Swindon golfer Howell played his first competitive rounds since withdrawing from the Maybank Championships Malaysia in late February when he took part in last week’s BMW PGA Championships.

Although the 40-year-old failed to make the cut at Wentworth, Howell was pleased with how his foot held up in tournament play and believes it can cope with a full-time return to the Tour.

However, the Broome Manor pro was also suffering with a chest infection, which could now force him into another period of recuperation.

Howell is not listed to play in the Nordea Masters in Sweden, which starts tomorrow, and will instead focus his return at Austria’s Lyoness Open on June 9 to allow himself to get over the chest infection, which he has been taking antibiotics for.

“The foot was good. I wasn’t affected negatively by it in a single shot, so that was great,” said Howell.

“It was a little bit swollen after the first round. I could feel a little bit of internal swelling, so there might still be a little bit of time until it’s 100 per cent perfect but, all things being equal, it was pretty positive on that front.

“I am not sure if I am going to play next week in Sweden or not. I am still stuffed with this chest infection.

“I might well miss that one and play in Austria after another week off, and then hopefully I will be back into the swing of things.”

Howell carded a solid one-over par opening round at Wentworth but followed that up with an up-and-down display in the second as a two-over par round saw him drift away from the cut line.

Although he would have liked to have made the weekend at the Tour’s flagship event, two-time Ryder Cup winner Howell said a positive return from injury was a good enough result.

“The week was all about the foot and whether the foot could cope with it or not,” said Howell.

“I did not get four rounds in clearly but the way it felt after two; I would think it would have been OK for two more.

“That was what the week was mainly about. I had to give it a go in a tournament and it’s held up well.

“I had very meagre expectations and only because this tournament is on my doorstep did I attempt to play. I didn’t do myself any disservice. I missed the cut by two; no disaster.

“It’s been a while since I made the cut here so it’s a frustrating year again at our biggest tournament, so hopefully I can get fit and start playing some nice golf in the weeks to come.”