Judd Trump had nightmare Crucible preparation as star struck down by two grim setbacks

had the preparation from hell ahead of this year's .

The runaway world No.1 was bedridden with tonsillitis and then struck down by a freak neck injury in the week prior to the event.

Ace in the Pack Trump, 35, feared his dreams of becoming a multiple Crucible champion would be dashed.

But antibiotics and regular massages got him fit and firing as he lived up to his favourite's tag with five century breaks in his opening match.

The top seed plays Shaun Murphy in the clash of the last-16 and revealed: "I have had two injuries. Luckily they are both gone now. The tonsillitis was first. I didn't want to move for a few days with that.

"Then I woke up one day and couldn't look to one side. I couldn't move my neck. I mean it's the worst timing ever.

"It's never ideal, you are always worried about how long it is going to last. It happened just early enough that I was able to play later on in the tournament.

"I had the same thing with my neck against Rory McLeod [in 2017].

"Luckily I had some massages in Dubai and after a while that helped. I didn't do that last time, I just hoped it would go away and it didn't.

"But I'm better now and I can concentrate on the snooker."