Sixers' injured Noel returning to Philly for workouts

MINNEAPOLIS – Nerlens Noel  is scheduled to board a plane to Philadelphia on Friday and is likely to work out under the 76ers' supervision on Saturday.

The Sixers reserve center had surgery to repair inflamed tissue above his left knee on Oct. 24. He has been rehabilitating under the supervision of Kevin Wilk, the associate clinical director at Champion Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Ala.

The 6-foot-11, 228-pounder said his knee is to the point where he can resume his rehabilitation with the Sixers at their practice facility in Camden.

Noel has been sidelined since Oct. 6. His only game action was their  preseason-opening matchup two days earlier against the Boston Celtics at the University of Massachusetts.  He finished that game with six points on 3-for-5 shooting. Noel also finished with three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

He practiced the following, but has since sidelined with what Sixers thought was just a left groin strain.   Noel kept experiencing pain in his knee. After being examined, the team realized that he also had an inflamed plica.

The Sixers have missed his shot blocking during their first 12 games.

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