LEWIS Moody is ready for a return to action with Bath and then England despite being told by doctors he may never be able to see perfectly again.

The England captain has been sidelined since October 1 after damaging the retina in his left eye in a collision with the Gloucester full-back Charlie Sharples.

Moody was blind in the eye for 24 nervous hours and the blow has left a scar that could cause a permanent blurring of his sight.

But the flanker nicknamed Mad Dog insisted on being released to play for Bath against Harlequins on Sunday – just six days before England tackle the New Zealand.

“The eye will probably never be perfect anymore,”

said Moody.

“I bruised the retina and part of the macula and that has left a slight scar just across the back which means part of your vision is distorted.

“It could get better and hopefully over time it will do.

Your brain learns to ignore it apparently. It might take my brain slightly longer than most!

“I lost all sight in that eye from the moment it happened for 24 hours but from the way you are programmed to deal with injuries you are always confident it will improve.

“I have trained the last two weeks and there have been no issues and thankfully I can get a game in this weekend.”

England manager Martin Johnson has retained the bulk of his squad for the All Blacks game in camp this week but after three weeks out Moody refused to be wrapped in cotton wool.

“I am hugely relieved to be back. I just want to get back playing, as any sportsman does,” said Moody.

“It is not ideal to be playing six days before the All Blacks but it makes no difference to me. I really wanted to play.

“If I was going to be picked for the All Blacks game I didn’t want to go in having not played a game.”

England head into the Investec series on the back of a victory over Australia in Sydney.

The All Blacks head to Europe as Tri-Nations champions and the world’s number one ranked team. England then face Australia, Samoa and South Africa on successive Saturdays.

Meanwhile, Johnson has confirmed that Jonny Wilkinson will not require shoulder surgery – but he remains doubtful for England’s clash with New Zealand.

■ Wales’ Gavin Henson was last night given the green light to relaunch his rugby union career with Aviva Premiership club Saracens.

The Ospreys have reached an agreement with Saracens regarding Henson’s release from the Swansea-based region.

Henson, who has not played for 18 months after going on unpaid leave following the latest in a series of injuries, was under contract with the Ospreys until next May.