MOSCOW, November 14 (R-Sport) - Health permitting, Evgeni Plushenko's first competitive skate of the season will be at the NRW Trophy in Germany next month, his coach told R-Sport on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Olympic champion was expected to compete first at the Russian championships starting December 24, but has now added the December 5 event in Dortmund to his schedule.
"Evgeni will have one international event before the Russian championships, we've settled on Dortmund," Alexei Mishin told R-Sport.
Plushenko's participation in the second-tier event will depend on how he recovers from a medical procedure he recently underwent in Germany, Mishin said without elaborating.
"So whether he'll take part will hang on the doctors' recommendations," Mishin said.
Plushenko is returning to competition after a knee operation in the wake of the European championships in January, where he won the gold medal.
His action this season has so far been limited to the team-based Japan Open last month, won by local star Daisuke Takahashi, and his own 30th birthday party, where he skated despite a slight fever.
The NRW Trophy, held since 2007, clashes with the Grand Prix final in Sochi, which is December 6-9.
