INJURY-plagued Richmond midfielder Mark Coughlan is hoping to return to football within weeks after returning from radical treatment in Germany early this week.

Coughlan made the trip to see Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfarth to help speed up his recovery from a hamstring injury.

The German specialist injected animal fluids to help repair Coughlan’s damaged hamstring after achieving success with similar treatment to Geelong’s Max Rooke last year.

Coughlan trained briefly at Punt Rd on Tuesday morning and says the hamstring came through unscathed.

 “I haven’t had a full hit-out yet. I had a run today but I’d like to think I’ll be back in a couple of weeks,” he said.

“They didn’t let me go full pace just yet, but it is feeling pretty good.”

Coughlan was injected with animal substances every 48 hours during his two-week stay in an effort to stimulate muscle repair and create an anti-inflammatory effect.

He said he was reassured by the unusual rehabilitation approach.

“It has been quite positive – even getting over there and getting some alternative treatment. He’s had success with athletes and it gives you some self-belief,” he said.

Coughlan has had a wretched run with injuries in recent years but says he never seriously considered quitting football.

“I guess it makes you want to come back more. I’ve had long-term injuries that have ruled me out before the season has even begun. You’ve got too much time to think so you do think about those things but it has never really been an option of mine,” he said.

Richmond rehabilitation and conditioning coach Warren Kofoed made the trip to Germany with Coughlan and says the treatment was not as exotic as many believed.

“There’s a lot of stigma associated with what’s going in because it is over in Germany – it is half way across the world,” Koefoed said.

“The procedures are still very similar to ours. From here we’ll stick to the guidelines and protocols we’ve had in the last few years.

“There’s the injection treatment which is a bit left-field ... but these substances are widely used so it is not as if it is any form of witchcraft.”